Aaron Cutler dissects and dispels ten myths about the modern day Liverpool.
8. Sakho can’t pass
The laziest stereotype of modern day football is that which laments Mamadou Sakho’s passing ability. A gangly defender whose touch is somewhat unorthodox the Frenchman has endured criticism from fans and pundits alike. Opposition supporters have even taken to ridiculing his every touch – before being silenced in the wake of unerring accuracy.
Sakho’s passing success in his first full season at Anfield was a remarkable 92.5%. He followed that up with a commendable 89.4% last term. The Parisian averaged more than 50 passes a game in each season.
To put that into context Daniel Agger – a fan favourite held up as the ultimate ball playing centre half – never matched those statistics in his seven years at the club.
Likewise Rio Ferdinand, England’s ‘Rolls Royce’, achieved a career high of 92.3% in 2012.
By January 2015 Sakho had misplaced the fewest passes of all Premier League players to have attempted 500 or more that season (58 from 525).
Don't you just hate how clumsy Sakho is?http://t.co/CbA2ZT05XA
— Fields of Anfield Road (@FOAnfieldRoad) August 21, 2015
The likes of Paul Merson, a master of neither English language nor English football, care little for such data.
The former Arsenal man said of the French centre back last Spring: “I don’t care what you say. He can’t pass. He doesn’t look right.”
Keep pedalling that myth, Merse.
ANALYSIS: Dispelling the myth that Sakho is “clumsy”
10 LIVERPOOL MYTHS
1. Liverpool ‘lost the league’ at Palace
2. Rafa’s Fergie “Rant”
3. Rodgers’ portrait of himself
4. The Spice Boys couldn’t defend
5. Martinez ‘turned down’ Liverpool job
6. Suarez the flat track bully
7. Garcia’s “Ghost Goal”
8. Sakho can’t pass
9. We never gave Hodgson a chance
10. Gerrard wasted his career
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