Standard Liege staged a dramatic comeback against rivals Anderlecht on Sunday afternoon to grab their third win on the bounce, as well as their fourth win over the last five games. Carl Hoefkens side are on a seven match unbeaten run and have gone from flirting with the bottom four to just two points off of the top four.
Part of the reason for this turn in fortune has been a new look midfield three, which has come courtesy of three former Premier League players. Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has started all five of the games he has played for the club since joining in September, helping to provide some defensive steel to the central areas.
Alongside him, former Wolves midfielder Hayao Kawabe has started to show his talents. The 28-year-old Japanese central midfielder never made an appearance for the Premier League side. He joined in January but was sent back to Grasshopper on loan. Standard then persuaded the midfielder to leave England for Belgium, where he has already grabbed three goals and provided two assists.
The final of the three musketeers is Steven Alzate, who was on loan at the club from Brighton last season. Throughout the summer the club had been working on a way to bring the 25-year-old Colombian back to Belgium. Since re-joining, he has played four games, scored once and provided one assist.
Thanks to their summer business that is now bearing fruit, the club has been able to release pressure that was building from a fanbase that was frustrated with the lack of activity. Hoefkens said that he felt they should only be judged after the window closed. So far, he and his side are passing all tests.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
