Former Liverpool player, Stephane Henchoz expressed his admiration for the Reds defender Martin Skrtel and insisted he was the stand-out performer for the Merseyside team in the recently concluded 2011/12 campaign.
The Slovakian International was voted as the Liverpool’s Player of the Season by the club’s fans earlier in the month. He is currently considered as one of the best defenders in the Premier League and has proved to be the focal point of the Reds rearguard
over the last couple of years.
Henchoz felt that the 27-year old was the outstanding performer for the Reds in the previous term, and pointed out that his fast pace, awareness and ability to score goals from set pieces distinguishes him from the rest of the defenders in the Premier League.
Skrtel, who joined Liverpool in January 2008, has since made 164 appearances for the Reds and netted 7 goals in the process.
The former Swiss footballer conceded that he was surprised to see him improve in such a short span of time, and believed that the role of a defender has become increasingly challenging in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 with the passage of time.
He told the club’s official website, “When he was first in the Liverpool team, I wasn't totally convinced about him.”
“With Martin, I think it took him a little while but he's come through that difficult transition and now he's very strong and quick and that's what you want from a centre-back.”
Apart from Skrtel, the 37-year old was also in awe for the Reds striker Luis Suarez for spearheading the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 attack. However, he pointed out that the Uruguayan footballer tends to overrun with the ball at times, but was confident that he will only
improve with time.
He added, “He's got tremendous quality and he's showed it already but there is still something missing in his game for me. He could be a No.10 player with a finisher ahead of him if he's managed by someone very intelligent tactically."
When asked who he thought was the greatest Liverpool player of all times, the Swiss gave his vote in favour of the Reds current skipper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steven-Gerrard-c34196. He also drew comparison between Kenny Dalglish and Gerrard, indicating that the latter had influenced
the players at a time when the chips were down- unlike the Scott who was a part of the club’s golden generation.
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