Goodbye Skrtel

BY EWAH CHIKA

"Besiktas is one of those interested in Martin but we haven't reached a point where I can confirm Martin is going there, or anywhere else. " 

"I can say that it is 90 per cent certain that Martin will leave Liverpool, but it is far from closed"... Those were the words of Karol Csonto wthe agent of Liverpool and Slovakian centre-back Martin Skrtel. 

What this message implies is that Skrtel appears to be excess to requirements in Liverpool after making only 18 appearances since the arrival of German coach Jurgen Klopp in October. Skrtel lost his place in the team to Mamadou Sahko and even while Sahko was suspended by UEFA for failing a routine drug test, Veteran Kolo Toure was quickly called up to the starting eleven to pair Lovren in central defence . 

Skrtel's sudden exit will certainly mean a sad ending for the "Terminator" as he is fondly called by Liverpool fans having moved to Anfield from Zenith St Petersburg in January 2008 for a bargain price of £6.5 million before going on to become a first team regular and even winning the League Cup with Liverpool in 2012 with Kenny Daglish. 

With Daniel Agger, Skrtel formed one of the best centre-back pairings in European football nearly winning the Premier  League in 2009 before collapsing at the late hour and  reaching the Champions League quarter-final in 2009/2010 and FA Cup final in 2011/2012 before losing to Chelsea on both occasions. Also, Skrtel's form was so good during this period that he was voted Liverpool's Player of the Year In May 2012. 

Though he was third  captain last season under Brendan Rodgers, it is surprising how his stock has gone so low at 31. It is clear that Skrtel now lacks pace and athleticism which were one of his outstanding qualities but the impending sale of Skrtel has more to do with the fact that Klopp seems to be trying to build his new team on his own set of players rather than those signed by previous managers an example of which is the recent signing of Mainz and German goalkeeper Karius recently. 

While one cannot change the fact that Skrtel is certain to leave, it is clear that Skrtel will forever be a Legend at Anfield as he was a loyal and effective servant all his time at the club.