We are seeing Arsenal move quite aggressively as Liverpool did in the ongoing summer transfer window as the Gunners look to complement the arrival of Christian Norgaard with highly rated Valencia centre-back Mosquera, and given the potential that he possesses, he may end up being another progressive player in Mikel Arteta’s side. But it is not too late just yet, and the Reds can still do something about it.
Given that the Merseysiders are looking to bring in a new central defender this summer as they look for someone who has that capacity to play as a successor to Virgil van Dijk whilst adding quality, given Ibrahima Konate’s links with a move away from L4. Then there is also this need to sign someone who adds depth and quality to the defensive options at Liverpool.
We have seen some links with a move for Marc Guehi brewing through the rumour mills of late, but then there’s Mosquera, someone who is capable of bringing that absolute sense of raw quality to the roster at Liverpool and a prospect who had the capacity to go on and become one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
Let’s understand what Mosquera brings to the table…
To start with, he has that high technical intelligence and great intelligence and understanding of the game despite his budding age. And then the Arsenal-bound defender excels at reading play in “half-spaces”, so what he does more often than not is he tries to pick up cues as he tries to intercept or step in (and this is a key trait for defensive structure at Anfield Stadium, given it demands proactive defenders).
Moreover, he is quite exceptional when it comes to 1v1 defending, and he has an elite duel success rate. And then he complements this defensive duel trait with his capacity to force the attackers wide (this is more owing to his positional discipline), which I believe is quite ideal for the high-press system at L4, where defenders need to get back into their shape quite quickly on counters.
Cristhian Mosquera also has that explosive speed and ability to eat up ground which have been praised widely by many given how he uses that to recover from defensive errors (his or any of his teammates) or if he is using that to get to (and clear) through-balls before they find the destined target attacker. Now this also ends up playing in the Reds hands, given how Liverpool had found themselves a bit vulnerable when facing fast transitional attacks, and this is where Mosquera’s athletic coverage would end up giving a sense of crucial insurance to the backline at L4.
Moreover, he is also quite aggressive when it comes to channel defending, given how he uses body position and physicality to block inside any routes, so this way it is easier for him to get an upper hand on the wingers that are cutting inside or running through the line. This means that the 21-year-old can easily shift between defending pockets between full-back and winger (or taking on wide threats directly).
Moreover, he has shown excellent timing on last-ditch tackles and clearance (especially when it comes to commanding the penalty area).
I do think that there is a bit of work that needs to be done in terms of attaining that physical dominance against physical number nines, but at the moment he compensates for that with his aggressive sense of presence, which is not too bad as well.
Mosquera is not your top-tier passer from the back, but he is still a safe distributor. More often than not, he likes to pick up those moments to dribble out of the back, which can end up complementing the build-up style from the back that Slot has been playing.
How can Mosquera fit into the system at L4?
To start with, if you were to ask me, he is quite ideal in the pressing and zonal defensive schemes that Solt has implemented at Liverpool. He also is quite reliable at shutting down elite attackers and has that 1v1 success rate which can help the Reds get more channel control.
The 21-year-old also boasts a recovery pace which ends up giving a sense of recovery presence in case of defensive lapses, especially given how the Reds are vulnerable to facing quick counters.
He is quite clean at buildupand gives a slot that much-needed composure in the box. He also gives you that ball protection and set-piece dominance whilst adding reliable depth.
Why should Liverpool outpace Arsenal?
The Gunners are moving really fast to secure his signatures and at the moment the things seem advance but then the Reds need to not knock, this time around they need to bang the door open given how the Merseysiders defensive model is exactly akin to the profile demands of Mosquera. And getting him would first block a key rival into getting a quality defender but also add quality to the defensive roster at L4.
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Author Opinion
Cristhian Mosquera is more than just a skilled young player; he is an almost-ready tactical masterpiece who has ball-playing ability alongside world-class defending. His physical characteristics, mental resilience, and adaptability bring everything that Slot wants in a defender.
Arsenal might presently be ahead, but Liverpool’s need for generational defensive excellence compels them to up their game immediately, and he is the type of defender who’ll thrive and anchor the defence for years to come.
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