Martin Keown has warned Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk about the threat of Olivier Norwood ahead of the Premier League clash against Sheffield United.
League leaders Liverpool travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon hoping to maintain their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp’s side may not have it all their own way, however, with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United enjoying a bright start to life in the top-flight.
Norwood has been particularly impressive for the Blades and Keown has identified the Northern Ireland international as the key to unlocking Liverpool’s defence.
‘If Sheffield United are to upset Liverpool in Saturday’s lunchtime encounter, a week after securing a 2-0 win over Everton, then Oliver Norwood will be key,’ Keown told the Daily Mail.
‘Liverpool will be aware of what he can bring. Norwood is so crisp in possession. In all of the Premier League, only Jorginho has hit more passes into the final third than him.
‘The 28-year-old drops deep, gets the ball then hits it into the channels. Normally, those passes are meant for his wing-backs, but George Baldock and Enda Stevens could be a bit preoccupied at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
‘The hosts will play a back three but as Liverpool’s full backs – two machines in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson – push up, that could become a back five.
‘No side has produced more crosses than Liverpool’s 146, with a league-high 61 coming from Alexander-Arnold, so Wilder’s wing-backs should drop deep to help their defence.’
Arsenal legend Keown added: ‘Norwood will be ratting around at the back, too, but he will look to get his head up whenever he gets the chance. He will fire those diagonal balls of his into the channels for his strikers to chase instead.
‘There will be space there if Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are stationed high up the pitch, so Liverpool’s centre backs will have to beware that. They should prepare themselves for a few long ball battles at Bramall Lane, too.
‘I mentioned how Norwood has produced the second-most passes into the final third in the Premier League. The player who has produced the third most? United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
‘They aren’t afraid to test centre backs like that, so Virgil van Dijk will have his hands full. Only one centre back in the Premier League has won more aerial duels than the Dutchman and he will be wearing red and white on Saturday – Jack O’Connell.
‘Keep an eye on him from set-pieces. Wilder will relish pitting his wits against Jurgen Klopp on Saturday.
‘Like Norwood, he worked hard to get to where he is now. He was named the LMA’s League Two manager of the year in 2016, then League One manager of the year in 2017, then Championship manager of the year in 2019.
‘Now in the Premier League, he is trusting in his system. It took down Everton last week. Now he has his eyes on the other half of Merseyside.’
