Victor Moses arrived on loan at Liverpool FC after the club's failed attempts at its primary transfer targets in midfield and attack.
On arrival it was thought that the nature of Moses' game had the potential to address the continuing problems Liverpool had with breaking down defences on a consistent basis, even with such creative forwards as Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
What Moses was expected to bring to the team was a direct threat from wide positions, especially in running directly at opposing fullbacks, with pace, power and dynamism to unbalance a defence, whether it be in open play or the counter.
His premier league debut suggested that Liverpool had indeed made the right choice and that both club and player appeared to suit one another. However following the injury to Phillipe Coutinho, Moses' role in the team was changed to a more central role, a role which reflected his game in his last season with Wigan Athletic.
Since then Moses has struggled, both in central and wide positions, culminating in his lukewarm performance in Liverpool's 3-1 loss at Hull City Tigers.
Today its probably safe to say that Victor Moses is at an important crossroads in his career. At the end of the season, however good his performance is, his loan terms require him to return to Chelsea. However, with the glut of talent in his position at Chelsea, the importance of a good performance while on loan at Liverpool cannot be overstated. This becomes even more important in a world cup year, with his role pivotal to Nigeria's success.
From a tactical perspective, Liverpool presented a perfect opportunity for Moses to play from his area of greatest strength- wide left, cutting onto his stronger right foot, attacking the opposing defence with pace, power and unpredictability.
This spontaneity was expected to fit squarely into Liverpool's dynamic attacking quartet with frequent rotations and switching of play and positions. This would have the additional benefit of stretching opposing defences and freeing up Coutinho to play from the center of the trio in a 4-2-3-1.
Part of the problem with Moses is that his major strength, his instinctiveness at once presents a benefit as it does a constraint, especially in his decision making, the consistency of his decisions, as well as his ability to deliver the ball at the top end. His inconsistency at this had resulted in some poor crossing statistics and his not being listed among the most successful crossers in the English Premier League.
While the stats might show an erratic player, they also reveal the start-stop nature of his playing time since leaving Wigan Athletic. This is crucial in any assessment because Victor Moses is a rhythm player and without regular playing time, his game naturally suffers.
For Nigeria though, his spontaneity is central to the Super Eagles way of playing and expectedly he enjoys greater freedom to play to his instincts and greater tolerance of his mistakes. As it similarly was while at Wigan.
He briefly flourished under Rafa Benitez at Chelsea playing predominantly on the counterattack. However, Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers is not a counterattacking team.
So far Moses' reaction to the criticisms he and Raheem Sterling received following the loss to Hull has been disappointing. While Sterling has come fighting back, Moses has looked diffident and a tad casual, and has remained on the bench, even with Liverpool suffering a rash of injuries in attack and midfield.
His personal story is indicative of a player with a strong mentality, as his former manager, Roberto Martinez attests.
Failing to assert himself at Liverpool, Moses will be left with the World Cup to try and reboot his career.
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