Dave Hendrick’s Top Five Picks to Reinforce Liverpool Midfield | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Midfield Puzzle: Dave Hendrick Assesses Defensive Midfield Options on Another Podcast

As Liverpool gear up for a transformative summer, the conversation surrounding midfield reinforcements has reignited. On the latest episode of Another Podcast, Dave Hendrick delivered a marathon breakdown of 25 defensive midfielders who could reshape Liverpool’s core. With no creative licence taken, we examine the players through Hendrick’s direct lens, focusing on his detailed insights and relentless drive to solve Liverpool’s midfield dilemma.

Adam Wharton Tops the List

For Hendrick, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is the standout candidate: “He is the prototypical player that Arne is looking for in this role.” The former Blackburn talent has shown exceptional composure and tactical maturity for a 21-year-old. “He was born to play that deepest role as a controller… the best passer England have produced probably since Michael Carrick,” said Hendrick, who added that Wharton “takes the ball in with a great level of security… has a full picture of the pitch in his head.”

Wharton’s display against Brighton stood out in Hendrick’s analysis: “He went up against [Carlos] Baleba and Diego Gomez… matched their physical level while outplaying them from a technical point of view.” Hendrick believes a midfield of Wharton and Alexis Mac Allister would offer “IQ, ball retention, progression, control.”

Lamine Camara: All-Round Midfield Dynamite

Another name Hendrick flagged was Lamine Camara, describing him as “a do-everything midfielder.” Currently at AS Monaco, the Senegal international was praised as someone who could be anything from a six to a ten. “You want him to be a six, he’ll be a six… he is a more dynamic, stronger, more defensive-minded version of Naby Keïta,” he said.

In one of Hendrick’s most emphatic endorsements, he declared: “The player he reminds me of is Lothar Matthäus… he just does everything well.” For Hendrick, Camara’s ability to play in any midfield configuration makes him invaluable. “He’s smart enough to make everything work… great set piece taker too.”

Physicality and Mindset: Alan Varela and Others

Hendrick was unflinching about Liverpool’s current midfield softness, pointing to the infamous tackle on Mac Allister by James Tarkowski. “Nobody went hunting afterwards… that worries me.” For him, Boca Juniors graduate Alan Varela, now at FC Porto, represents the toughness Liverpool lack. “Varela has never been bullied in his life. That fella went to the Emirates, grabbed Declan Rice around the neck and said ‘What the [expletive] are you going to do about it?’ And Declan Rice shrank.”

Varela’s versatility impressed Hendrick, who sees him working in double pivots with Gravenberch, Jones, or Mac Allister. “He brings the right mindset and mentality to our team.”

Realism Over Fantasy: ‘Tire-Kicking Exercises’ and Top Five

Hendrick was pragmatic throughout, acknowledging that some names like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaïre-Emery fall into “tire-kicking exercises.” While admiring their quality, he noted the unlikelihood of a deal.

Still, he gave a clear top five, factoring in “style, price, injury track record, availability”:

Wharton and Camara emerged as “the two that stand out a mile.” Hendrick concluded: “They tick so many boxes for me… if I had to just pick two, they would be the two.”