Daniel Agger’s future at Liverpool is looking increasingly uncertain after the Danish captain reportedly claimed that “the manager doesn’t think I’m good enough”.
When quizzed about his Anfield future by the Danish press, Agger is said to have responded: “I don’t know. That’s up to the manager. I can’t go and put myself on the team sheet.
“It definitely wasn’t great (to be left out of the games against Chelsea and Manchester City), but I don’t make the decisions. I think it is because the manager doesn’t think that I’m good enough. I’m no one’s third choice.”
Agger has frequently been linked with a move away from the club since Brendan Rodgers arrived in 2012, but he was made vice-captain following the retirement of Jamie Carragher last summer and his ‘third choice’ comment doesn’t really stack up. While he had to share playing time with expensive new arrival Mamadou Sakho last season, had he managed to stay fit then the chances are he would have retained his place in the side.
The popular Dane did find himself on the bench for extended periods during the season but usually only after he had originally lost his place through injury (the exception being when he was dropped following a 3-3 draw at Goodison Park).
Agger himself made that very point when speaking to the club’s official website following the final game of the season, ironically after he had been recalled to the side at the expense of Sakho. “Personally it’s been a frustrating season, most of all because of some stupid injuries” he said. “The only positive I can take from it is that I’ve not been out of the team because I’ve played bad - it’s because I’ve been injured - and then afterwards it’s been difficult to get back in because the team is winning, so I can’t do anything about that.”
With Rodgers seemingly unwilling to pair two left footers together at the heart of his defence, Agger and Sakho have been vying for the same position all season and competition for places is set to increase further with the Reds looking to add another high profile centre back to the squad this summer. Southampton’s Dejan Lovren has been strongly linked and the Croatian usually played as the left sided central defender for the Saints last season, meaning he could just as easily partner Martin Skrtel as replace him.
Agger would therefore appear to be most likely casualty of any summer defensive shake up, but even if Rodgers wishes to keep him he will not be able to guarantee him a place in the side and it is now looking increasingly likely that the 30 year old will end his 8 year stay on Merseyside.
What do you think, should Agger be first choice or is it in everyone’s best interests for him to move on this summer?
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