Liverpool Loanee Sepp van den Berg Impresses at Mainz

Introduction

Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has been making waves during his loan spell at Mainz. The 22-year-old Dutch centre-back has been catching the eye with his outstanding performances in the Bundesliga.

A Successful Loan Spell

After spending last season with Schalke, Van den Berg opted to stay in Germany and joined Jurgen Klopp’s former club, Mainz. He has been a first-choice starter throughout the campaign, missing only one game due to suspension. Van den Berg has primarily played as the left-sided centre-back in a back three formation.

Impressive Performance Against Dortmund

In Mainz’s recent 1-1 draw with Dortmund, Van den Berg showcased his skills by scoring the equalizer. He made the third-most defensive actions, the joint-most recoveries, and recorded the highest number of clearances among his teammates. Additionally, he won four out of five aerial duels, boasting a win rate of 80%, higher than any other Mainz player.

Aerial Dominance

Van den Berg’s aerial prowess is evident in his statistics. According to WhoScored, he has won an average of 5.8 aerial duels per 90 minutes, which is the highest among defenders with at least 500 minutes played in Europe’s top five leagues. This achievement puts him ahead of players like Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Potential Return to Liverpool

The impressive performances of Van den Berg have caught the attention of Liverpool, especially considering their current defensive situation. With Joel Matip suffering a season-ending ACL injury and uncertainty surrounding his contract extension, Klopp may need to strengthen his defensive options. If Liverpool decides to pursue another centre-back, Van den Berg’s form at Mainz could make him a viable candidate for a return to the club.

It’s worth noting that Mainz has negotiated an option to buy into their loan agreement, which could complicate any potential return to Liverpool.