Is Georginio Wijnaldum Liverpool's new Xabi Alonso?

There’s nothing like a comparison with a great to put a spanner in the works of someone’s career, but Wijnaldum, who arrived this summer after a season with long-suffering Newcastle, deserves comparison with the Spanish star because he is proving so effective on the field. Sometimes, the best midfielders are almost anonymous. They’re not box to box, they don’t send tackles flying in, they don’t power up to the edge of the area for a speculative hit at every opportunity; they don’t need to. 

Alonso, like so many Spaniards of his generation, treasures the ball and knows what he wants to do with it before anyone has a chance to object. It’s early days for him at Anfield, but Wijnaldum has similar characteristics. Liverpool fans barely notice him when he plays, and really miss him when he doesn’t, as in the drab draw against Man Utd. He’s tidy, effective and keeps things ticking over towards the attacking options ahead of him.

Alonso’s greatest games were played alongside Javier Mascherano, whose strength and bite gave Alonso the chance to play. Wijnaldum doesn’t have that luxury, as truly defensive midfielders seem anathema to Klopp. The Dutchman may yet form a similar partnership with Emre Can, or Jordan Henderson; maybe both. And if he catches a sight of goal from the halfway line at any point, he could make the comparison to Alonso even more solid.