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How Liverpool misfit Luis Alberto is spearheading Lazio’s charge up the Serie A table

Luis Alberto, who was once compared to Philippe Coutinho by Brendan Rodgers, is finally realising his potential with Lazio
Luis Alberto, who was once compared to Philippe Coutinho by Brendan Rodgers, is finally realising his potential with Lazio

As Lazio have assembled a group of misfits and mavericks over the last couple of seasons, few outside of Rome have tipped them for greatness. Under the management of Simone Inzaghi – the younger brother of Milan legend Filippo who, as a willowy striker with the club from 1999 to 2010, made just under 200 appearances for Lazio during his playing days – the Biancazzurri have gathered together some weird and wonderful players.

While highly rated central defender Stefan de Vrij joined Lazio from Feyenoord in 2014, two years before his current manager first took over as caretaker, Inzaghi has presided over the signings of Luis Alberto, Lucas Leiva, Nani and Ciro Immobile among others.

Alberto made a total of twelve appearances for Liverpool between 2013 and 2016 (though did enjoy two fruitful spells on loan at Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna); Lucas had played an auxiliary role at Anfield for several years; Nani found himself surplus to requirements at Valencia and appeared to be on a sharp decline in his early thirties; Ciro Immobile had scored a total of 10 league goals in three seasons while sleepwalking between Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Torino.


Now, all of them are proving to be crucial in Lazio’s surge towards the Champions League qualification places. Having come through a sticky patch in November and December when they won only twice in seven league fixtures, Inzaghi’s men have scored 10 goals and picked up six points in their last two games.

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With Lazio up to third in Serie A and profiting from Inter Milan’s dire form – league leaders at one point, the San Siro club haven’t won in six – their squad of supposed write-offs and rejects is now drawing covetous glances from across Europe. Luis Alberto, playing as an attacking midfielder behind Immobile in a wildly offensive 3-5-1-1 formation, has scored seven goals and provided nine assists this term, earning the 25-year-old a reputation as one of Serie A’s most exciting breakout players.

Attacking football

Inzaghi’s attacking set-up has yielded a league-high 53 goals this season, with 20 of them scored by Immobile. After his disastrous transfer to Dortmund in 2014 – a move which saw him score only three times in the Bundesliga – the 27-year-old from Campania is now averaging over a goal a game. Though he was injured in this weekend’s 5-1 win over Chievo, Inzhaghi said afterwards: “It shouldn’t be anything serious but we might lose him for a few matches… fortunately in attack I have options because Caicedo, Felipe Anderson and Nani can give us a hand.”

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Though none of those attackers are anywhere near as prolific as Immobile, Nani scored against Chievo and has proved to be a nifty backup player out wide. Meanwhile, Lucas has helped to shield a dynamic if often vulnerable back three, while Dutchman De Vrij has gamely shouldering the huge burden of being the lone man in the centre of defence. With a strong spine completed by towering Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha – still only 22 years of age, the man between the sticks is an excellent but relatively little-known prospect – Lazio have exhilarating potential all through the team and have all the ingredients for future success.

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Simone Inzaghi may preside over a team of misfits, but Lazio’s performances are indicative of a blooming squad with growing self-confidence. Though some of the shine might have been taken off their season by the sort of fan trouble which so often plagues their public image, on the pitch the Biancazzurri are a shining example of what can be done with left-field recruitment and a devil-may-care approach.