There is one player at Anfield who really does seem to split the fans down the middle in terms of his ability. This player has a great deal of determination, but leaves many believing he doesn’t really have the skill to warrant constantly appearing on the starting eleven team sheet. I think you know who I am talking about……

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Dirk Kuyt once again proved yesterday his knack of scoring important goals. The Dutch international arrived as a striker with a proven goalscoring record (albeit in the Eredivisie which is essentially no better than the Championship) and, after a season up front, was converted into a wide man. Kind of like a Thierry Henry positional re-think in reverse.

There are some who believe that he doesn’t deserve to be a starter for a club of the magnitude of Liverpool, and that no amount of non-stop determined running for the cause can make up for some basic flaws in his footballing ability. However, as stated before, he has a knack of being the right place at the right time, scoring late crucial goals (albeit normally from three yards) that can prove invaluable to Rafa and he clearly knows this.

I am a fan of the former Feyenoord man, as I like a player who a) looks like he loves to play the game, loves the club and seems to realise just how lucky he is to be at such a great club and b) clearly gives his all for the entire 90 minutes (hence his ability to pop up at the crucial moment).

By playing him out wide, Rafa has pulled off a tactical masterstroke and this is even more apparent in a side that now has Robbie Keane to cater for. I think one negative you can lay at Kuyt’s feet is that sometimes it appears he is trying almost too hard. I know that sounds odd, but it’s almost as though when he gets the ball he is often trying to mentally repeat to himself to not make a mistake and in doing so, sometimes too often goes for the simple rather than deadly option. There is no doubt he can put in a quality ball, something he proved at the Euro’s for Holland, he just needs to do so more frequently and then he can truly become a Kop cult hero.

Fans on the whole will always appreciate a player of Dirk’s style, a player who gives 100% even though he will no doubt admit himself that he isn’t the best player on the park, but he doesn’t let that get in the way of his ceaseless attempts to take the club as far as they can go.

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