Gini Wijnaldum has reinvented himself as a striker for Al-Ettifaq with the former Liverpool midfielder currently enjoying a staggering scoring run
Gini Wijnaldum of Al Ettifaq and Fabinho of Al Ittihad during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ittihad and Al Ettifaq at Prince Abduallah Al Faisal StadiumView Image
A number of Liverpool’s players have had to show their versatility so far this season to help Arne Slot cover for a number of injuries within his ranks. The most obvious example is Dominik Szoboszlai, with the Hungarian finding himself utilised as a makeshift right-back on a number of occasions.
But even when fielded in his more favoured midfield role, the 25-year-old has also lined up as both a number eight and a number 10 before switching to the right-wing in recent weeks.
Elsewhere in midfield, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones have found themselves both selected at numbers six, eight and 10, with the Scouser also lining up at right-back when required.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz has been fielded on both flanks and as a false nine as well as in his favoured 10 position, with the German finding form in recent weeks since being utilised on the left. Likewise, Federico Chiesa’s game-time has been split across the same four attacking positions.
Defensively, Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson have both lined up as makeshift centre-backs, with Slot name-dropping the pair and Ryan Gravenberch as possible solutions if his natural options were depleted further.
And while more natural in their two favoured positions, Joe Gomez has seen action at both centre-back and right-back with the same true of Jeremie Frimpong at both right-back and on the right-wing.
Versatility is no bad thing at Liverpool, with it such a trait that was embraced under Jurgen Klopp.
Gomez, for example, would play right across the back four and as a holding midfielder in the German’s final season at Anfield alone.
But other examples would see Jordan Henderson and Fabinho utilised as emergency centre-backs in 2020/21, while James Milner spent the entire 2016/17 campaign begrudgingly playing at left-back.
Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo would all find themselves fielded in more than one different position under Klopp’s watch.
But the most obvious example of his most versatile player is arguably Gini Wijnaldum.
A look at his Transfermarkt profile and you will be greeted by the sight of a player who has played in every single outfield position, barring either full-back role, during his senior career.
Signed from Newcastle United in a £25m deal in the summer of 2016 following their relegation, he had impressed as an attacking midfielder for the Magpies - both centrally or from the left,
Yet for Liverpool, he was primarily used as a number eight midfielder with number six his next most-used role. Yet he also showed his versatility further by finding himself sparingly turned to on the flanks, in a more advanced midfield role, as a false nine and even at centre-back when the circumstances called for it.
Given he continued to prove himself as a free-scoring number 10 when away on international duty with the Netherlands during his Reds career, supporters were always left bemused by Klopp’s reluctance to let the Dutchman off the leash and field him in such a role back at Anfield.
But given Wijnaldum played a vital role in his five seasons at Anfield from a more defensive position, helping Liverpool win the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup, one can hardly question Klopp’s logic.
There was one occasion where Klopp had to select the Netherlands international upfront though - and it came on the biggest of stages.
With Roberto Firmino an injury doubt for the Reds’ Champions League semi-final first leg away at Barcelona in May 2019 because of a groin issue, it was Wijnaldum who Klopp turned to to lead the line, flanked by Mane and Salah.
Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge were both available to Klopp, with Wijnaldum surprised to learn he would fill Firmino’s boots in attack ahead of the pair.
And Klopp insisted at the time that his energy and defensive qualities were better suited to carrying out Liverpool's game plan.
"It was quite a big task,” Klopp admitted. “I asked him 'What does it say about you' and he said 'I don't know' and I said 'You can play everything'.
“When I told him that he plays the position he was surprised, obviously, and it took 30 minutes to adapt but in the second half he was really good.
“We needed this kind of player, an offensive player who is quite good in defending as well because we could not ignore the quality of Barcelona.
“We needed a player between the lines who is good enough to keep the ball, pass the ball. I know what people outside said, saying it was easier to play another striker, but there are different jobs to do on the pitch and Gini did really well.
“In a game like this, in a really small space and a completely new position for him – he played it in Holland and maybe at Newcastle – he is the player to do it.
“It is not about being this or that, you have to be a football player, you have to be a lot of things and he has this education so he was good, really good.”
Liverpool would fall to a 3-0 defeat, with Wijnaldum withdrawn after 78 minutes, but such a hefty scoreline only told half the story and was not a true reflection of the Reds performance.
Former Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders would later reveal how Wijnaldum made a bee-line for Firmino as soon as the Liverpool squad got back to the Camp Nou away dressing.
“He played very well, although we lost 3-0," Lijnders told AD. “In the dressing room, he immediately walked over to Bobby Firmino, the actual striker, who was not fit enough to start.
"He said, 'Bobby, do you do this every game? Respect! I now see how heavy it is'.
“That is beautiful. Everyone is responsible for everything, we say. But nothing works better than when players themselves feel what everyone's position demands. Not to take away their own specialism, but to experience it."
Consequently, it was somewhat fitting that the Dutchman emerged as the hero back at Anfield, scoring twice off the bench after being introduced at half-time when left free to attack from midfield as Liverpool won 4-0 to reach the final against the odds.
Klopp would not need to turn to Wijnaldum upfront again prior to his Reds departure in the summer of 2021.
But now on the books of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, over six years on from belatedly conquering Barcelona, and the 35-year-old has found himself turned to upfront once again.
Wijnaldum has had to show his versatility for the club this season. The majority of his game-time has come upfront, but he has also been utilised as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and left midfielder at times.
And his record upfront is actually rather good, with the Dutchman returning five goals from five games in the position this season - including a brace in Ettifaq’s 2-2 draw with league-leaders Al-Nassr on Tuesday.
Facing off against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman, the stalemate marked the first time a side had taken points off Al-Nassr in the league all season.
Wijnaldum opened the scoring for Ettifaq early on with a sublime strike into the top corner from distance, only for Felix to equalise shortly after the break.
Al-Nassr then went in front through Ronaldo in the 67th minute as Felix's close-range effort ricocheted in off his compatriot's back, only to see the former Liverpool midfielder equalise late on with his second of the game.
Having seen a 10-game winning streak brought to an end, Ronaldo took to social media after the final whistle as he wrote on Instagram: “We are on the right path and we know what we need to do in 2026.”
Wijnaldum now boasts eight goals and an assist from 12 games this season, with five goals coming from his last four Saudi Pro League outings.
Meanwhile, having also been used upfront at times last season, his overall record in the position for Ettifaq stands at seven goals and an assist from 10 outings.
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Evidently, Klopp was right when telling Wijnaldum that he ‘can play everything’ - even if it has taken a further six years for the Dutchman to truly showcase his abilities upfront.