Kranevitter - the future of Argentina's midfield.

Argentina, who lost to Germany at the Brazil 2014 World Cup final, has an outstanding figure amongst their ranks. A captain among players, a lion, a footballer who has played for the best and biggest, passing through River Plate, Corinthians, West Ham United, Liverpool and Barcelona. Javier Mascherano has been Argentina's number 5 since 2003, excelling as the years have gone by. Nicknamed the little chief, he is a defensive midfielder who defends every ball as if it were the last. He is now 30 and the "albiceleste" will need to be looking for someone to step into his shoes soon.

Matias Kranevitter is a 21 year-old defensive midfielder born in San Miguel de Tucuman in the north of Argentina. His family is from an area that clearly shows the unbalance of prosperity with disturbing poverty and is one of 6 siblings. He found his first job at the age of 12 becoming a caddy at the local golf course. Difficult and traumatic beginnings are common traits for the Argentine footballer. These roots, that are very different from immaculate European footballing academies, help up-bring committed players that give everything to succeed.

Kranevitter has played 40 matches for River Plate's first team after leaving San Miguel de Tucuman's youth ranks at the age of 14. He wears Mascherano's number 5 shirt at River Plate and has been impressing for the past 2 Argentine championships. He has also played for Argentina's Under 20's. He pulls the strings in the midfield and is an impassable wall at times, a balance between defence and attack. A great opponent play-breaker who quickly sets up his teammates in attack, Kranevitter is the next central midfielder to come from a long line of great number 5's from River Plate: Rossi, Merlo, Astrada, Almeyda, Mascherano.

Matias Kranevitter

Kranveitter had been recently called up to the Argentine National squad by Gerardo Martino (Argentina's head coach) for 2 friendlies against Brazil and Hong Kong on a tour of South-East Asia during October. Ponzio, Kranevitter's teammate and fighting him for a spot in River's team said about the redhead in an interview with Diario Ole (in Spanish): "He's the best number 5 in the country, he has an enormous future. He was made at River, he always wants to learn and in training he is all sacrifice and will". Ponzio, an experienced midfielder who has played for Newell's Old Boys, Zaragoza on 2 occasions and River Plate, also said: "Krane and I know that one may play one week and the other the next. We always talk, he's respectful and intelligent".

Unfortunately, while playing against Independiente in September, Kranevitter sustained an injury, a fracture to the 5th metatarsal bone of his right foot, that will keep him on the sidelines for at least 3 months. He will miss the Argentina matches and most of what is left of the Argentine National championship which River Plate is currently leading after playing 11 matches. River Plate's team and fans alike will be anxiously waiting for his recovery and return, and hopefully he will have a few more seasons in Argentina to demonstrate how much he is actually worth. Juan Pablo Varsky, a respected and renowned Argentine journalist said of Kranevitter: "He is the most important project of Argentine football. He is already good".

Due to the fact that most Argentine teams are debt-ridden, players like Matias Kranevitter usually do not have long careers in South America and are swiftly and cheaply recruited by European teams. Top clubs will be coming for the Tucuman-born player and regardless of the accessible price-tag, he has everything needed to become one of the best and even may become the next Mascherano, fill his boots as Argentina's new number 5 and who knows, he may even take the "albiceleste" that extra step in the next World Cup.

WEST HAM vs LIVERPOOL - EPL PREVIEW

Liverpool to face West Ham at Upton Park for Saturday's evening EPL match. After midweek Champions League action, the Premier League returns and Liverpool will be hoping to improve after a poor defeat against Aston Villa at Anfield and a lacklustre victory versus Ludogorets in Europe. Ending this week on a high note will be crucial for the upcoming weeks where the Reds have a tight schedule, playing Middlesborough for the Capital One on Tuesday, having the derby clash versus Everton on the following Saturday and then travelling to Switzerland to play Basel in the Champions League.
The Hammers are yet to get a point playing at The Boleyn Ground and while their away form has been better (a win and a draw) their fans will be expecting, or hoping for, a first home win. With Sam Allardyce on a constant fight with the West Ham board the fans seem to be at a 50-50 point with the gaffer. Talking in his pre-match conference he recalled last season's match: "I remember last year we were sadly done by a refereeing decision. They complained that they had to park too far away, the dressing rooms were too hot, and the grass was too long, whatever."

Team News:
Liverpool: The new Red signings will have to start gelling together and fast for the fans to see some of the amazing displays from last season and Rodgers will be keen to have his creative players show their finesse. With Sturridge, Allen, Can, Flanagan and Johnson all out injured, the Liverpool Boss will probably be going for a similar team that walked out onto Anfield on Wednesday, with a couple of changes. Starting XI: Mignolet, Moreno, Skrtel, Lovren, Manquillo, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.

West Ham: The Hammers made a couple of astute signings in the summer in the form of Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate to boost their attack. The Argentine has experience playing in Argentina, Qatar, Italy and in England for Birmingham, scoring for all teams. He can be greedy at times but has a good eye for goal. Liverpool were linked with Alex Song for the whole summer but ended up moving to West Ham on a free transfer, he has played at the top level with Arsenal and Barcelona and is stalwart in the middle. Starting XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Tomkins, Reid, Song, Noble, Zarate, Downing, Sakho, Valencia.

Match Preview:
Liverpool's defensive frailties seem to be a continuous problem, Mignolet making similar mistakes to last season and the centre-back pair not playing up to standards, especially defending set-pieces. Moreno and Manquillo have excelled, but lack of supplying Balotelli upfront and Coutinho's drop in form could pose a dilemma. Fortunately for the Reds, Super Mario found the back of the net versus Ludogorets opening his goal-scoring tally. Brendan Rodgers admitted afterwards:
“We are not at the standard we were last season, that’s for sure. There is a lot of adaptation going on as we have a lot of players who have come in and are still adapting. We are a work in progress. While we do that, it’s important we win games.” Sterling and Henderson have both stood out this season, the new vice-captain constantly commanding in midfield and young Raheem seeming unstoppable at times.
West Ham have had in Stewart Downing their best player this season, showing that his time at Anfield just didn't go his way. With Song in the middle of the field pulling the strings, it will be up to the front men to show their strengths. The Hammers back-line may have some trouble coping with the speed of Sterling and the strength of Balotelli.

Head to Head:
At Upton Park, Liverpool and West Ham have played a total of 57 matches, the Hammers winning 20, Liverpool 22 and the teams drawing on 15 occasions. Liverpool have had 4 wins out of the 5 last trips to Boleyn Ground, winning the corresponding fixture last season 2-1 with Steven Gerrard scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Liverpool are undefeated in 21 of their last 23 matches against West Ham in all competitions and have scored at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 9 away matches in the Premier League. West Ham have seen over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 9 matches against Liverpool in all competitions.

Prediction:
West Ham 2 vs Liverpool 3
Liverpool are having trouble keeping a clean sheet and this probably won't be the exception. Balotelli to score a brace and Lallana to open his goal-scoring account for the Reds. Zarate and former-Red Downing to score for the Hammers.