Conclusion
Romeo Lavia is an exciting young midfielder who has already shown his potential in his first season of senior football. He is a combative, press-resistant player who is good in buildup and comfortable taking the ball under pressure. He has great footwork, can beat his marker with a drop of the shoulder or sharp turn, and is very good at progressing the ball through his dribbling or more direct forward passing.
He could fit into Liverpool’s system either as a No. 6 or No. 8, and could easily make the step up to the club next season. His energy, ability to read the game and composure are all excellent, and with the right guidance he could become a world-class midfielder.
Liverpool have made contact with Southampton over a possible deal for Romeo Lavia, and it looks like he could be an exciting addition to Jurgen Klopp’s midfield ranks.
What Could Romeo Lavia Offer Liverpool?
Introduction
Liverpool have made contact with Southampton over a possible deal for midfielder Romeo Lavia, so what could he offer if he made the move? This article will explore Lavia’s playing style, strengths, weaknesses, and how he could fit into Liverpool’s system.
Who is Romeo Lavia?
Lavia, the 19-year-old Belgian, is among Liverpool’s transfer targets as Jurgen Klopp rebuilds his midfield ranks this summer. Having only arrived from Man City last summer, interest in the teenager comes on the back of a standout first campaign as a senior player in which he made 35 appearances.
What Type of Midfielder is Romeo Lavia?
Lavia is a defensive midfielder who has done his best work as a lone pivot/No. 6. He is a combative midfielder who likes to get stuck in, as shown by his nine yellow cards last season, very quick across the ground and makes a lot of challenges. He’s also very good in buildup and comfortable taking the ball under pressure, always making himself an option to receive a pass. When he has got further forward he hasn’t looked out of place at all, and scored a very good goal against Chelsea from the edge of the box last season.
What are His Strengths?
Arguably, his biggest strength is that he is incredibly press-resistant. As mentioned, he is very good in the buildup phase and helping his team build through the thirds of the pitch. Such was his performance in this function last season that a number of opponents man-marked him when Southampton had the ball at the back – as teams identified if you stop the supply line of passes to Lavia, you restrict their ability to pass out. Considering last season was Lavia’s first as a senior player his composure and maturity were quite remarkable, as well as his consistency in performance.
He is a good passer and rarely loses the ball, and one of his key strengths is one-on-one duels both defensively and offensively, beating his marker with a drop of the shoulder or sharp turn. Whilst his short passing is very good, he is also talented at progressing the ball through his dribbling or more direct forward passing. He has a great burst of pace and his positioning rarely lets him down.
Have There Been Any Weaknesses in His Game?
He’s young so he will mistakes at times, although I would say I can’t remember seeing a midfielder as composed and mature as him at his age. The opener in the final-day 4-4 draw between Liverpool and Southampton was a good example of those errors, as Lavia misplaced a pass in his own box and Jota scored as a direct result. One of his biggest assets is that he is prepared to take risks and responsibility despite his age, but this can also be costly if the ball is lost, particularly given he is often operating at the base of the midfield. He is also not the best aerially, but can make up for this with his positioning to some extent. Not a weakness per se, but he did miss six weeks early on last season with a hamstring injury. Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted at the time that perhaps Southampton had overused him so early in his career, having never made a senior competitive appearance prior to last season.
Who Would You Compare Him To As A Midfielder?
It is quite hard to pinpoint which players Lavia resembles in playing style, as he is relatively unique in