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THREAD: Ben Davies signs for Liverpool
Quick, mobile, composed left footed defender. Reads danger early, defends calmly + is excellent with the ball at his feet.
LFC recruitment bang on again and he can still improve. RTs appreciated. #pnefc #LFC @TheAnfieldWrap @AnfieldIndex
Quick, mobile, composed left footed defender. Reads danger early, defends calmly + is excellent with the ball at his feet.
LFC recruitment bang on again and he can still improve. RTs appreciated. #pnefc #LFC @TheAnfieldWrap @AnfieldIndex
First things first, I’ve seen plenty of comments saying he’s slow. He’s not. He’s very capable in 1v1s and covering large spaces. Vs Raheem Sterling.
He covers wide spaces well and is constantly seen covering the left channel. He reads danger early and his mobility allows him to defend wide spaces well. He moves his feet quickly when engaging.
This time v Gabriel Jesus. He engages wide, moves quickly with the ball and engages well. He’s very comfortable in these areas and he’s very rarely beaten for pace.
1v1 defending in large spaces is a big strength and it’s a necessary requirement in a Klopp side. He’s calm and patient.
He’s just comfy. You never think he’ll be beaten in a foot race. Ben Davies is not slow.
If his opponent does reach the ball first, he’s a good 1v1 defender. Predominantly reliant on his left foot to poke the ball - rarely engages with his right foot.
He reads danger very well. Often sweeping space behind his RCB, he reads deep runs and he moves across well.
Sees the danger. He’s side on ready to engage wide, his pace over short distance and his reading allows him to cover his fellow defenders.
He reacts quickly to danger and because he isn’t the biggest, he’s fluid in his movements and gets down to slide well when he needs to. He rarely needs to.
He’s very good when engaging with a player who has a direct run on him. Stays low, doesn’t go to ground if he can help it, and just gets his body in the way. Usually a quick simple release once he’s recovered.
So he’s good in wide areas, good at covering depth and good when being run at. He’s composed in his defending. He has a couple of weaknesses (aerial) and lacking upper body strength. He can get pinned easily at times. He gets turned here but he recovers well.
This is his biggest weakness for me. He gets too tight at times and falls into the trap of fouling or being pinned and turned. However he has good mobility to recover.
Championship is more direct than the Premier League, so he may not suffer as much in this regard, however it’s something he needs to improve on and it’s been his weakness throughout.
He’s good at defending his box. Watch his early scan and his open body position here - it allows him to engage forward and he remains composed as always.
When he needs to go to ground and be aggressive, he can. However it’s not his first option.
This aggression is something he can still add to his game at the age of 25. It will be a balance of bulking up but maintaining his composure and his mobility.
It’s something he’s improving upon though and it’s not a major issue. He just needs to make sure he doesn’t overcommit.
Ok now the fun stuff. PASSING. He’s outstanding on the ball and his passing ability (especially long) will suit Liverpool.
Being left footed gives him that natural angle to switch to the right. Trent usually the target for these passes and Davies will find him.
Switches play really easily. He can float them over players or he can drill them (next tweet)
Nice and flat - he can drill them and keep them low to minimise travel time in the air. Allows more 1v1 potential. His passing technique is great.
He can also thread ground passes. Gets quite low when he releases the ball and this gives him extra control on the pass.
He can also pass to the left. Not as natural to him, however the weight on his pass is usually spot on.
As well as his passing ability from deep, he’s also good at progressing the ball into the box. At times he’s been PNEs most forceful attacker. (This is his weak foot lol)
Probably North End’s best crosses. He’s just good at football. Don’t imagine he’ll be doing this much for LFC, but it demonstrates his range of passing ability.
Also picks out nice channel balls like this. His weight of pass is probably his most consistent quality.
For a CB, he’s extremely comfortable in the final 3rd. Good turn of pace here as well.
Doesn’t do it as much due to constraints with PNEs system, but he has the ability to carry the ball as well. Carries and passes nicely here.
Carries from own half to final third here and just covers ground so easily. His approach will suit LFC who average 63% possession and need the CBs to contribute.
Willing to attack space too. Mobility is the main thing to get across here. He. Is. Not. Slow.
Finally, he doesn’t score many but this was a nice example of his quality. Maintains composure, shifts and shoots. This is more composed than most Championship strikers.
Whilst he has been dominated aerially on occasion, he is improving. His aerial win % is average at Champ level - he often drops slightly and then engages with 2nd ball. But he can get his head in the way in the box. Good knack of getting in the line of the ball.
And finally I think this sums Ben up. Trusted to be the last man, high up, if he loses the ball here we’re in trouble. Composed, quick feet, and a simple forward pass. Utter class at North End and we are losing a poster of HUGE quality.
CONCLUSION
Davies is a composed, mobile defender. Can defend 1v1 and comfortable in high/ wide spaces. Technique and weight of pass is great. He carries well and pass selection is good.
Lacking physicality and aggression, gets pinned at times, but improving in that regard.
Davies is a composed, mobile defender. Can defend 1v1 and comfortable in high/ wide spaces. Technique and weight of pass is great. He carries well and pass selection is good.
Lacking physicality and aggression, gets pinned at times, but improving in that regard.
