Ranking Liverpool's Top 5 Players for March 2016
Though a second-half collapse away to Southampton derailed their form last month, Liverpool can consider their performances throughout March to be largely positive, as Jurgen Klopp's side hit form at the business end of 2015/16.
Letting a two-goal lead slip at St. Mary's Stadium proved a major disappointment for the Reds, who headed into the international break deflated, having produced a number of fine displays prior to that collapse.
Overall, however, Klopp will be buoyed by the improving form of a number of his squad players, while the endurance of Liverpool's key names provides the German with the perfect foundation as he plots for a strong conclusion to the current campaign—ahead of a busy summer.
Defeat to Southampton followed victories over Manchester City and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, as well as a two-legged triumph over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League's last 16, sealing a 3-1 aggregate win and a quarter-final against Klopp's former side, Borussia Dortmund.
These successes came as a result of impressive, all-round team performances, but who were Liverpool's best players throughout March? Here, we subjectively rank the top five, based on individual performances, overall form and their importance to the team over the five-game stretch.
Kicking off with Brazilian No. 10 Philippe Coutinho, here are Liverpool's top five players for March.
5. Philippe Coutinho
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Recovering from a laboured Capital One Cup final defeat to City at the end of February, Coutinho's path back into Klopp's starting lineup was hampered by the form of those around him—most notably Adam Lallana, who inspired a 3-0 win at home to Manuel Pellegrini's side at the beginning of the month.
After missing City's visit to Anfield, and coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 comeback victory away to Crystal Palace—helping to turn the tide for a 10-man Reds—Coutinho was restored to Klopp's first-team selection for Liverpool's Europa League last-16 first leg at home to United.
As This is Anfield's Henry Jackson detailed after that 2-0 win, Coutinho was once again outshone by Lallana and Roberto Firmino, but "he was very effective and played his part in what was a brilliant attacking display."
While he played second fiddle that night, Coutinho took centre stage as the Reds travelled to Old Trafford for the second leg.
Capped by a remarkable solo goal to seal progress, driving beyond the sprawling Guillermo Varela before chipping the ball over David De Gea, Coutinho was in excellent form, terrorising Varela with four successful dribbles and three key passes—the joint-most of any player, level with United's Juan Mata.
Though the Reds eventually fell to defeat at St. Mary's in their final outing of the month, Coutinho was central to an emphatic first-half display, dictating play behind the interchanging Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge.
He started the month slowly, but Coutinho quickly imposed himself on his return to Klopp's starting lineup.
4. Dejan Lovren
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After a miserable maiden campaign in a Liverpool shirt, falling behind Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel in Brendan Rodgers' defensive ranks following a poor return on his £20 million transfer fee, Dejan Lovren has improved significantly in 2015/16—something he told the Express' Paul Joyce is due to Klopp's influence:
"Sometimes you need time. It depends on people who manage you well. In the time, since Jurgen has come things have changed a lot.
I changed also because I really like his work. This pressing and, I would say, the need to be always 100 percent ready for the fight in the training and in matches.
I spent my first seven years growing up in Germany and maybe I have a bit of that mentality.
"
Subscribing to Klopp's wholehearted, front-footed mentality, Lovren has established a key role alongside Sakho in the Liverpool back four and, after missing February's League Cup final due to family illness, started every game throughout March.
This included a stoic display in the 3-0 win at home to City, and an impressive performance deputising at right-back after James Milner was sent off in the Reds' 2-1 win away to Palace—at Selhurst Park, Lovren showcased a commitment and determination that helped drive Liverpool to an unlikely victory.
The one blot on Lovren's March copybook came at St. Mary's—as with many of his team-mates—with Klopp withdrawing the Croatian at half-time in fear he would be sent off against his former club, but overall, it was another strong month from the resurgent 26-year-old.
3. Emre Can
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While Jordan Henderson spent March struggling for form, fitness and consistency, telling reporters including the Press Association (h/t This is Anfield) at the beginning of April that "sometimes I can be my own worst enemy if I’m playing with an injury or different things," his midfield partner, Emre Can, continued to shine.
Largely utilised in a deep-lying role in Klopp's midfield two, Can's energy and vitality as a box-to-box option allowed the German to dominate the midfield battle against both City and Palace.
Meanwhile, his physicality saw him rise above the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Morgan Schneiderlin in both games against United.
Showcasing an developing tactical intelligence, Can made eight successful tackles and four assists in the Reds' 1-1 second-leg draw with Louis van Gaal's side—a combined tally higher than any other player—as well as playing the ball wide to set Coutinho on course for his equalising goal.
While he told German publication Kicker (h/t Liverpool's official website) during the international break that Liverpool "need to manage to be consistent for a longer period of time," and "this also applies to me," March was one of Can's most consistent months since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014.
2. Roberto Firmino
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Continuing his rise to prominence under Klopp in 2016, Firmino is making light of the £29 million Liverpool spent to secure his move from Hoffenheim last summer—and he looks set to become a key fixture in the Reds' attack for years to come.
This emphatic form endured throughout March, though the Brazilian's progress was hampered by a hamstring injury that also kept him out of the first game of April—Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
His absence at Anfield that day saw Liverpool's attacking line blunted, as Coutinho, Lallana and Sturridge toiled to little avail for much of the evening, and Klopp will no doubt have been ruing Firmino's battle for fitness.
Throughout March, Firmino was in inspired form, scoring three goals and laying on another in just four appearances, with his display alongside Lallana in Liverpool's 3-0 win at home to City one of his finest since arriving on Merseyside.
That evening, the 24-year-old operated as a second striker, with his pressing play forcing Pellegrini's defence back towards their own penalty area, allowing the likes of Lallana and Origi to thrive; his finish, adding Liverpool's third after a great move by Lallana, showed composure, confidence and overriding quality.
Klopp will be hoping to welcome Firmino back for the trip to Dortmund, as the Brazilian is one of his most in-form attackers at this stage of the season.
1. Adam Lallana
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While Coutinho and Firmino often added the final flourish in front of goal in March, it was Lallana who provided Liverpool with their driving force, with the ex-Southampton man reaching his best form since making the move to Anfield in 2014.
In five appearances last month, switching between roles on the left and right flanks, Lallana scored one goal and assisted on a further three, with his display at home to City a blend of off-ball tenacity, technical quality and ruthless finishing.
Lallana's performances throughout March were recognised as he was handed the PFA's Player of the Month award—an accolade Klopp told reporters, including the Liverpool Echo's Neil Jones, at the beginning of April should come as no surprise:
"I always knew how strong he was. I knew more about him when he played for Southampton. He wrote a very nice story there, and I am really, really happy that a few more people are recognising what a great player he is.
I saw the game against the Netherlands this week, and he really is a good player—and a nice guy too.
It's absolutely deserved. He's won the award for the whole Premier League for March? Congratulations. Hopefully he can win it again in April. That will be good for us!
"
Roundly held up as a possible casualty following Klopp's arrival in October due to his lack of pace and cutting edge, Lallana has attuned to the 48-year-old's methods admirably, and Liverpool are reaping the benefits.
Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk and WhoScored.com.
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