IF ever there was evidence that those analysing football and those living it week to week are experiencing different things, it’s in the idea that Gini Wijnaldum’s performances for Liverpool have somehow gone unnoticed.
The Dutchman with the beaming smile was tipped by some to be a prime candidate to move on from Anfield during the summer, as almost £100m of midfield talent arrived on Merseyside in the shape of Naby Keita and Fabinho.
Their likely opportunities, coupled with the competition from club captain Jordan Henderson and the evergreen James Milner, would see the former Newcastle man scratching for a sniff this season, was the theory offered.
Yet no-one told Wijnaldum – or Jurgen Klopp.
Interviewer: "Does it bother you that Gini Wijnaldum doesn't grab the headlines?"
Klopp: "He grabs the headlines in our dressing room and that's all that matters to us." #LIVARS #LFC
— Léon (@srijandeep) December 29, 2018
As Liverpool prepare for the short trip to Manchester City amid The Reds’ most realistic title challenge for a generation, it’s the 28-year-old from Rotterdam who tops the appearances charts for Anfield’s middle men.
With 27 games played in all competitions so far, Wijnaldum has appeared in 25 of them, missing only the League Cup game with Chelsea in September, alongside December’s trip to Burnley in the Premier League.
From laughable links to a switch to Newcastle or Fenerbahce in July, Wijnaldum has not only risen to the challenge presented by Liverpool’s transfer dealings, he’s rattled the rumour mill into speculating about the other members of The Reds midfield that have struggled to displace him.
Fabinho to Paris Saint-Germain anyone?
But is it really, as suggested by some, a surprise that Wijnaldum is performing to this level?
A recurring theme is that Wijnaldum is “unsung” or that, as one journalist suggested to Klopp, his performances go “under the radar”.
Yet the midfielder, whose pass completion this season is an unerring 92 per cent, is literally a hero that is sung about. Every week. Every game. His song, a twist on This Girl by Kungs vs Cookin' on 3 Burners, was even on the playlist at the players’ Christmas do – with Henderson joining the man himself to pump out a version for Instagram.
From fans, to players, to the manager, Wijnaldum is loved and liked at Liverpool. It was a fact underlined by Klopp when he responded to the question.
“Under your radar! He’s an outstanding player,” said the manager.
“He combines a lot of things that you need. On a one-on-one situation, he can keep the body between the opponent and the ball, then pass the ball.
“I don’t know how many positions he’s played. In the double six he plays really well. He can play all three positions in midfield and that’s really nice.”
It’s this versatility that has been key to his success this season and beyond at Liverpool.
Away from those who grab the headlines, Gini Wijnaldum is again having one of those important games when he keeps everything together. His fingerprints over everything good Liverpool are doing.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 29, 2018
Wijnaldum arrived at Anfield pigeon-holed as a number 10 – and one with question marks around him from some Newcastle fans about his attitude and application following The Magpies’ relegation in his one and only season at St James’ Park.
Whatever the truth of that perception, there has been little to back it up on Merseyside. The Holland international has even played in defence with minimum fuss for Klopp’s side since his £25million move in the summer of 2016.
The manager’s faith in the talents of 53-cap Wijnaldum is nothing new either. On signing for Liverpool, Klopp revealed he had long been aware of his ability in a string of positions, tracking the player in his younger days while he was managing in Germany.
The player, meanwhile, revealed the personal touch of the manager persuaded him that North Liverpool and The Reds rather than North London and The Spurs was the place for him.
He told The Guardian: “He was interested in my personal life and that was good for me. He was not only interested in Wijnaldum the footballer, but Wijnaldum the person.
“When you are not out on the football field you have to communicate as people and it is good if you know something about how the other person is. It makes things easier.
“This season I started to enjoy it as soon as I knew Liverpool really wanted to sign me, especially after the meeting with Jurgen. I came away from that with a really great feeling that I could train with a good manager, a really good team and make myself a better player.”
Wijnaldum has become just that. Not every player is serenaded by The Kop with such regularity. And not every player is trusted to play almost any position on the pitch – even those that are alien to him.
Against Arsenal last Saturday it seemed no coincidence that Adam Lallana was brought on in his place with 12 minutes remaining with City next on the fixture list.
More often than not, when Wijnaldum plays well, Liverpool play well.
Georginio Wijnaldum with another excellent midfield performance for Liverpool tonight. Totally bossed it!
Doesn't always get the praise deserved but he is developing into an exceptional player under Jurgen Klopp. The difference from a few seasons ago is night and day. pic.twitter.com/UAvdFHboGU
— Dutch Football (@FootballOranje_) December 29, 2018
So far, his stats for his spell on Merseyside read 117 games played with a win ratio of 62.39 percent.
To put that into perspective, if we look at some of the other midfielders who were let loose in Liverpool red in recent-ish history Javier Mascherano’s win ratio (139 games) was 54.68 per cent, Xabi Alonso’s (210 games) was 58.1 and the recently departed Emre Can’s (167 games) was 50.9.
Further, Anfield’s Mr Dependable is rarely on the treatment table. In his season at Newcastle he played in every one of their 38 league games. In his first at Liverpool he played 36, his second 33.
If he was worth £25m as a number 10 in a side that tumbled out of the top flight, what price now as a player that can play wherever instructed in a side that reached The Champions League final and is now favourites to win the league?
It’s academic, as his value to Liverpool is clear. He is on everyone’s radar and his song will continue to be sung. Gini’s genius is not for sale. And long may that continue.
