Premier League season preview: Liverpool
Liverpool will be looking to build on a strong second half to last season in Jurgen Klopp’s first full campaign. What does 2016-17 have in store for the Reds?
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INS: Sadio Mane (£36 million, Southampton), Loris Karius (£4.7 million, Mainz), Joel Matip (free, Schalke), Ragnar Klavan (undisclosed, Augsburg), Georginio Wijnaldum (£25 million, Newcastle), Alex Manninger (free)
OUTS: Jordon Ibe (£15 million, Bournemouth), Martin Skrtel (£5 million, Fenerbache), Joe Allen (£13 million, Stoke City), Jordan Rossiter (£250k, Rangers), Jerome Sinclair (£4 million, Watford), Joao Teixeira (£250k, Porto), Danny Ward (loan, Huddersfield), Kolo Toure (free, Celtic), Lawrence Vigouroux (400k, Swindon), Ryan Fulton (Loan, Chesterfield), Ryan Kent (loan, Barnsley), Brad Smith (£6 million, Bournemouth), Jack Dunn (loan, Morecambe)
THE STORY: At the start of last season, after Brendan Rodgers invested significant capital in trying to recapture the magnificent side of 2013-14, headlined by the lightning quick front three of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, hopes were high for Liverpool fans. Rodgers had committed himself to finding similar players that summer, bringing in Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings for a significant outlay.
However, the Norther Irishman also betrayed his own philosophy by signing players who simply did not suit his technical, ball-on-the-carpet style. The addition of Christian Benteke for north of £30 million seemed particularly odd, and while the Belgian striker had enjoyed success at a struggling Aston Villa side, he never really fit in Rodgers’ system. Consequently, Liverpool looked disjointed and awkward as their manager persistently crowbarred square pegs into round holes.
On October 4, only eight games into the season, Rodgers was sacked within an hour of a disappointing 1-1 draw in his last Merseyside derby. Liverpool quickly turned their attention to Jurgen Klopp, and so far he has seemed unwilling to make the same mistakes as his predecessor. Klopp dropped Benteke as he began to implement the high-pressing, high-intensity style that brought him so much success at his previous club, Borussia Dortmund.
Firmino flourished as a false nine, Phillipe Coutinho rediscovered his scintillating form and English duo Adam Lallana and James Milner impressed while playing at a higher tempo. Klopp’s team ended the year in eighth position, out of the European placings — which may well be a blessing this time around — but with a building sense of momentum.
In his first summer transfer window, Klopp was keen to bring players that fit his system. Joel Matip, a calm and composed center half, was signed from Schalke on a free, while Premier League stars Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum arrived for a combined fee of more than £50 million. The important thing about the signings, though, is that all of them are well-suited to Klopp’s style. Both Mane and Wijnaldum are exceptionally athletic. They are willing pressers, more than happy to cover lots of ground and both possess decent (or terrific, in Mane’s case) pace on the counter.
Unlike Rodgers, Klopp is clearly intent on bringing in players who will serve a very specific role. However, it will be interesting to watch how he handles so many attacking players with no European games to rotate the squad. With Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho and the returning Sturridge all already at the club, as well as strikers Danny Ings, Divock Origi, Benteke and Mario Balotelli, one of the key questions facing Klopp this season is how to keep all of his attackers happy.
With competition as strong as ever in the Premier League after an influx of new and quality managers, Liverpool will face a tough task to regain their place among the country’s elite. The top four is the goal, but the posts are closing, and Klopp will have to be precise and decisive in his management if the Merseyside club are to return to their former glory.
KEY PLAYER: If Liverpool harbor any hopes of a top four finish, then, given the current personnel, a defensive game plan will not do the trick. This team will succeed or fail on the strength of their attack, and the form and fitness of Sturridge will be crucial.
Whenever the center forward has been fit and sharp, he looks like a class player. His pace is frightening, his finishing lethal and his touch and technique elegant and effective. His issues have been injury related rather than performance related, but if Liverpool’s main man can stay fit the whole year, then goals will surely come the Reds’ way. Joining a creative force of Firmino, Coutinho and now Mane, Sturridge will have plenty of opportunities. The question is whether he will be on the pitch to take advantage of them.
MANAGER: Klopp is renowned for his brash and outrageous style. Wonderful to watch, exhilarating to listen to in post-match press conferences, there is rarely a dull moment with the German at the helm. However, he is not just show and no dough — he delivers, and the upturn in Liverpool’s results in the back half of last season was testament to his qualities as a manager.
With several new signings and a full preseason under his belt, Klopp has the ability to shape this team in his own image, to breathe new life into what was a stagnating club and to provide Reds fans with a popular figure to rally around. This season marks the true beginning of Klopp’s reign, and the Liverpool faithful are ready to elevate him to god-like status.
Next: Premier League season preview: Middlesbrough
BEST CASE: Klopp’s new signings bed in quickly, the team continues to adapt to the their new, high-pressing style and the lack of European soccer sees a fresh Liverpool team sustain a title challenge and finish in the top four.
WORST CASE: Klopp struggles to manage the playing time of his oversized squad, Liverpool struggle for consistency and miss out on the European places once again.