Player Focus: Powerful Papadopoulos Worth the Risk for Liverpool

With the Suarez transfer saga still ongoing, and getting more tedious by the day for all parties involved (and those who aren't), it seems Brendan Rodgers is still keen to strengthen his squad regardless of the future of Liverpool's prized asset.

One area that the Ulsterman feels that he can add too further is at centre-back, with Kolo Toure already brought to the club on a free following the retirement of Jamie Carragher. Rodgers' disliking for Martin Skrtel has become abundantly clear and the Slovakian is set to be on his way out of Anfield, with Rafa Benitez keen to take the man he bought for the Reds back in 2008 with him to Napoli.

Reports suggest that the 28-year old may well complete a season long loan deal before securing a permanent move to Serie A next summer, and that is an avenue that Liverpool seem keen to go down with one of their own transfer targets.

The club have been linked with Schalke's young Greek defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, whose long term knee ligament injury has perturbed the Merseysiders from paying up front. It's fair to say that while you wouldn't want to meet Martin Skrtel down a dark alley, the 21-year old would probably put the frighteners up the seemingly soon to be former Liverpool man.

Papadopoulos has a face that looks as though it were born to do battle, but the Greek international also has the footballing ability to conquer those brave enough to challenge him. It took just 10 senior appearances for Olympiakos to convince Schalke that an 18-year old centre-half was worth the risk, and he's gone onto make 16 international appearances since, netting 4 goals.

One thing that may appease the Reds fans further is the fact that this is a player whose motivation is to play at a top level, rather than the riches that stardom at such a young age can bring. Papadopoulos snubbed a move to free-spending Zenit St. Petersburg last summer to remain in the more demanding Bundesliga. Despite Liverpool's absence from European competition next season, he would likely see a move to Anfield as a step in the right direction.

He may have only made ten league appearances last season, with his campaign curtailed by the knee injury he suffered back in November, but when fit, Papadopoulos is one of the top young centre-backs around.

The youngster's physical presence often leads many to think that he is taller than his 6-foot frame, though his leap allows him to get the better of opposing strikers in the air time and time again. Indeed, of all centre-backs to make at least 10 appearances in Europe's top 5 leagues last season only three had a better aerial success rate than the Greek (83.3%).

His average of 3 aerial duels won per game is one that was only bettered by Daniel Agger in the Liverpool squad last season, with the Dane likely to be his partner at the back were he to make the move to Merseyside. That ability in the air is something that comes in extremely handy from set pieces at either end, and it's clear that Papadopoulos has the drive to get on the end of crosses.

Of all players to make as many appearances as the Schalke man in the Bundesliga last season only Kiessling and Mandzukic had more headed attempts per game (0.8), with his average of 1 shot per game only bettered by Naldo and Hummels of centre-backs in Germany's top-flight. His threat would be a welcome addition to a Liverpool side that, despite creating the fourth most chances from set pieces in the Premier League last season (57), scored the fourth lowest percentage of their overall goal tally from such situations (15.5%).

Of course, to judge a player on 10 games is somewhat misleading, but Papadopoulos proved in the 2011/12 season, in which he missed just 5 league matches, that his defensive game is more than up to scratch. His averages of 3.7 tackles and 4.1 interceptions per game were both among the top 5 players in the league, with the former figure one that he was able to maintain in his 10 appearances last season.

While his interceptions average dropped to 2.9, his passing figures took a dramatic turn for the better, and it's a key development that will likely have attracted Rodgers to his evident availability. Averages of 38.8 passes per game and an 80.2% accuracy rose to 53.8 and 89% respectively in his 10 league appearances in 2012/13. The latter is a statistic that was only bettered by 10 Bundesliga players to make at least ten appearances last season, and it's worth noting that eight of those played for a possession dominant Bayern Munich side.

It's clear that a cruel injury blow stunted Papadopoulos in fine form, with the Greece international picking up the best WhoScored rating of any Bundesliga centre-back last season (7.45). The 21-year old has only just returned to training, so Liverpool's unease at forking out for the Schalke defender is understandable, but assuming he completes a full recovery they'd be wise to tie up a deal sooner rather than later.