The Forgotten Man: Jermaine Pennant

Enigmatic would be an understatement to describe Jermaine Pennant’s two year tenure at Liverpool.

He started off like most donning the Liverpool colours for the first time, over-eager and trying too hard to impress the supporters. Nevertheless, Rafa Benitez stuck by him and as the season progressed he was arguably one of Liverpool’s best players, topping it all off with an emphatic display against AC Milan in Athens.

You could call that a highlight of his career.

Fast-forward to the 2008/2009 season and Pennant now finds himself almost completely frozen out of the first team. If I’m bemused at the situation, just imagine what Pennant must be thinking. 

Too often at Anfield, teams tend to forget that there is another half of the pitch. Tight, stubborn defences have cost Liverpool priceless points at home and credit to Stoke, they’ve started that exasperating trend this season.

Now accommodating Robbie Keane in a 4-4-2, the right hand side of the Reds’ midfield is occupied by Dirk Kuyt.

Kuyt is a player that can utterly frustrate supporters but he deserves acknowledgement for his work ethic. But Benitez needs to consider playing a natural winger like Pennant on that troublesome right-hand side, at least offering him a run of games so he can demonstrate he is up to standard.

Last year, many will remember Pennant was one of Liverpool’s best players in August and September before he was ruled out for 10 weeks. Coincidentally, Liverpool were top and seemingly firing on all cylinders.

After such a long time out and with Benitez favouring a new formation, Pennant found himself exiled from the first team.

Yet upon his return, how did the former Arsenal man respond? By completely torturing Fulham and Birmingham during the tail end of the season, two matches that exemplify his patent ability. For those who say he doesn’t perform in the big games: see Chelsea, AC Milan, and Arsenal of 2006/2007. And for those people who unfairly vilify his attitude based on his past (I’ve heard some ridiculous stereotypes): he told Benitez he’d play in the reserves in order to keep his fitness up.

Pennant shouldn’t automatically be given that coveted right-wing slot at Anfield. He should, however, be given the chance to earn it ahead of an inconsistent Kuyt.

Should Pennant be reinstated ahead of Kuyt? Is Kuyt good enough for Liverpool?
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