Our series of 2015-16 Premier League team previews continue with Liverpool under the microscope as Brendan Rogers heads into a make or break season.
Summer transfers
Liverpool have invested heavily in the summer transfer window, no doubt accelerated by the departure of Raheem Sterling and the expectations from supporters after an abysmal 2014-15 season which saw Brendan Rodgers’ side finish sixth.
Over the course of two months Liverpool have added seven players to its ranks and seen five players vacate the premises, including; Glen Johnson, Sebastian Coates and most recently Rickie Lambert, who completed his switch to West Bromwich Albion last week.
Undoubtedly, the spotlight is on the most expensive captures; Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino who both drew a fee a either side of the £30 million mark. Liverpool also once again raided Southampton for Nathanial Clyne who becomes the fourth Saint to join the Reds in two years.
Burnley starlight Danny Ings elected Merseyside ahead of Tottenham and Manchester United, while the responsibility of replacing Anfield legend Steven Gerrard seems to have fallen on the shoulders of the reliable James Milner, who joined on a free from Manchester City.
Rodgers sifted through the lower tiers of English football and found defender Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic, and Bolton shot-stopper Adam Bogdan, to keep Simon Mignolet on his guard after the exit of Australian second string Brad Jones.
Benteke’s first Liverpool goal ?? pic.twitter.com/t5hOilqv21
— Football Stuff (@FootbalIStuff) August 2, 2015
Last Season
Last season started full of optimism and excitement, following on from the euphoria Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge created the year prior, and those feelings were replicated with some positive results early on, none more so than the 3-0 drubbing Liverpool handed Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Ultimately, the campaign fell apart due to a heavy fixture schedule which included a group stage exit in the Red’s return to the Champions League, multiple injuries to star marksman Sturridge, and an inadequate Mario Balotelli.
Despite the promising respite Liverpool showed throughout January, a heavy loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford sent the Reds on a downwards spiral, and frustrations eventually shifted to Rodgers for the remainder of an ugly conclusion.
Manager
It has been a whirlwind off season for Liverpool boss Rodgers. He was at the centre of a tug-o-war amongst supporters as to whether or not he deserved another year at the helm, he clung onto the throne and saw off any threat from Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, and also became the longest serving English Premier League manager of present.
New season, new beginnings? No chance. Every move, decision and comment Rodgers makes will be criticised, critiqued and over analysed throughout the 2015-16 season. Champions League football is the target, however if Rodgers is not on course come January it is almost guaranteed Fenway Sports Group will be forced to take action.
Strengths
Liverpool answered the lack of goals last year with a huge investment in the attacking department. With roughly, £70 million spent on brand new assets and the arrival of Divock Origi from loan to French outfit Lille, there is no question Liverpool will be dangerous to any team on the front foot.
Jose Mourinho may have to reinforce the Chelsea bus, because unlike the three goals between Lambert, Balotelli and Fabio Borini last season, Liverpool boast an approximate total of 39 goals, 24 of which have come from natural forwards Ings and Benteke.
Then there is the dynamic Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana who combined with new captain Jordan Henderson to record 16 goals between them, while potential Sterling replacement Jordan Ibe has elevated his game to a whole new level during Liverpool’s pre-season.
Weaknesses
Liverpool’s Achilles heel for numerous seasons has always been their defence, and although the backline that consists of Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho looks solid on paper, time and time again discipline and human error have caused Reds’ fans so much frustration.
Dejan Lovren, Emre Can, Alberto Moreno, Kolo Toure and the previously mentioned defenders have all displayed a lack of quality at times, and unfortunately on those occasions it seemed to always cost Liverpool three points.
Rodgers needs to cement a backline setup early on, it changed tactically too often last year and the alterations to the personnel suffered as a result.
Key Player(s)
Many eyes will be focused on Benteke and Firmino, even though there is the void left by Gerrard. Rodgers broke the bank to bring in the Belgian, while the Brazilian seemed to shock many Liverpool fans, purely because the Reds’ managed to fend off other European heavyweights.
For Benteke, it will be a matter of scoring goals. Plain and simple. That is what Rodgers forked out £32.5 million for. The towering talisman had a devastating goal scoring record for Aston Villa (42 goals in 89 appearances), but so did Andy Carroll at Newcastle United.
In terms of Firmino, the ambition is also quite simple. Excite the fans. You only need to look at the love Liverpool supporters had for Suarez, or the admiration Coutinho enjoyed last campaign. All of Liverpool’s creativity came from the little Brazilian, the idea of a duet is irresistible.
Best XI
(4-2-3-1): Mingolet;Moreno, Skrtel, Sakho, Clyne; Henderson, Milner; Coutinho, Lallana, Firmino; Benteke.
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Prediction
For Liverpool to be a success this year it will depend on two things, First and foremost, whether or not we can find the back of the net, the Reds created loads of opportunities last season but failed to capitalise which ultimately killed any chances of another Champions League berth.
Secondly, patience. There is no point criticising Rodgers or any of the Liverpool team. For once, the Reds have brought in several quality players, which takes a big toll on the original squad. They are going to need time to understand each other and gel, the same can be said for the coaching staff. We would all love to see this team hit the ground running, full steam ahead to a Premier League crown, but a negative response due to some bad results will only hinder any chance of success.
What is the target? Champions League football is the minimum. Liverpool have a good enough team at least on paper to win the Premier League, however the likelihood of that happening is slim at best, therefore Europe is a necessity.
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Can in for Lallana would make the midfield stronger. Lallana, Ibe, Markovic, Firmino, and Coutinho are all going to be competing for up to two AM places over four competitions, which is fantastic for Liverpool. With Allen’s injury, I would like Liverpool to consider Sissoko or Illaramendi, but I think Lucas, Can, Allen, Teixeira, Milner, and Henderson are a good enough lot to make the midfield competitive. Right back givers me confidence, but left back does not at all. I would like to see Liverpool try find a replacement for Enrique to cover for Moreno, and then use Gomez as cover for Clyne since Flanagan is still injured and Manquillo, Johnson and Wisdom are now gone. Liverpool’s attack is the puzzling part. I think our strongest formation will be 4-1-2-2-1, but when Sturridge returns Rodgers will need to slowly adapt a 4-1-2-1-2 formation to accommodate him. This way, having so many strikers won’t be such a waste. Benteke, Sturridge, Origi and Ings are a good set of forwards to choose from if you’re playing two up front. Balotelli and Borini must go. I’d like to see Rodgers alternate between the 4-1-2-2-1 and 4-1-2-1-2 formations depending on the opposition, venue and schedule.