How Glen Johnson Can Prove His Critics Wrong at Liverpool

Glen Johnson made his return from injury for Liverpool on Saturday, replacing Javier Manquillo for the final 25 minutes of the 2-1 win over West Brom at Anfield.

The England international full-back had missed the Reds' last seven matches since picking a hip injury in the latter stages of the defeat to Manchester City back in August.

Johnson's injury means he misses joining up with England during this international break, but he admits that he could have used the game time with his country to build his fitness.

"I would have preferred the international break to have come next week so I could declare myself fit and available," he is quoted in The Guardian. "I want to go away with the England team and play again for them as well."

Johnson is also quoted, as per This Is Anfield, explaining that talks on a new contract have gone "very quiet." "I am just concentrating week by week and not thinking about it," he says.

His current deal expires next summer and his currently exorbitant wages mean he would have to accept reduced terms in order to secure a new deal at Anfield.

Form

The former Chelsea and Portsmouth right-back is a player who has frustrated the Liverpool faithful over the past 18 months, struggling to find form and often criticised. The same could also be levelled at him for England, too.

"It is difficult when you have bad periods, but you'll get good periods," Johnson explains, seemingly admitting that he hasn't been at his best lately.

Indeed, for an attacking full-back, Johnson's goals scored and assists record over the past four seasons doesn't make for the best reading (all competitions—stats via ESPNFC):

Season	Goals	Assists
2013/14	0	3
2012/13	2	4
2011/12	1	2
2010/11	2	3

A recent article by Mahesh M. of This Is Anfield found that Johnson's "output of zero goals and two assists is the lowest amongst the regular full-backs of the top 4 of the Premier League."

Johnson, in his five years at Liverpool, has scored just seven goals and made only 10 assists in the Premier League.

For comparison, Man City's full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Alexander Kolarov made six assists each last season alone.

So Johnson's perceived strength as an attacking full-back is not proving fruitful, and nor is his defensive play. According to Squawka, he made two errors leading to goals last season and one the year before.

Of course, you can make comparisons and use statistics to suit whichever angle you want to get across, but the point is that Johnson has not been performing well over the past two seasons in particular, that much is clear to anyone who has watched him regularly for Liverpool or England.

Recovery

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

There is, however, the opportunity for Johnson to recover his career after the latest niggling injury.

With competition in his position now finally something to give him pressure following Manquillo's arrival in the summer, Johnson knows he needs to step up his game in order to find his way back in for Liverpool, and consequently England.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Manquillo has had a solid if unspectacular start to his career but has already made more than double (nine) the amount of appearances he made last season for Atletico Madrid (four) for Liverpool this season—partly due to Johnson's injury.

The 20-year-old Spaniard needs time to develop his game and has struggled more lately and is a player who could benefit from being used more sparingly rather than in every domestic and European match.

Johnson's introduction against West Brom actually showed signs of promise and gave Liverpool a reassuring presence down the right side—something Liverpool supporters haven't associated with Johnson for quite some time.

"

Look away now, Glen Johnson is coming on…

— Nick Collins (@AnfieldForum) October 4, 2014"

"

Credit Where Due File, btw: Glen Johnson after coming on.

— oh you beauty (@natefc) October 4, 2014"

Perhaps then the combination of competition for his place—especially once Jon Flanagan returns from injury—and the realisation that he must not waste the final years of his career will see Johnson return a stronger and more focussed player.

As one of the more experienced players in the squad, Brendan Rodgers could use Johnson returning to form and providing strength in a key position within the manager's system, especially given the defensive fragility that has been on display again in recent weeks.

It seems a long way off now but Johnson could even earn himself a new contract—although only on reduced terms. Stranger things have happened.