Our New Signings- Analysis

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By Alex Benachour @AlexBenaz

As we have all observed, Liverpool have hit the ground running in this season’s transfer window, by confirming the signings of four players before the window even opened. An approach that is regarded highly, it seems that the mistakes made in last seasons window have been learnt from, which is most certainly a promising sign.
The aim of this article is to predict where our new boys will slot into the system, and what they can offer to a team that hopes to make a real push for the top four places next season.

1. Kolo Toure:
It seems obvious that Toure has been brought in to replace the retired stalwart Jamie Carragher, a smart move by Brendan Rodgers, as the current team cannot afford to lose the experience players such as Carragher and Toure can offer. Toure is a vastly accomplished centre-back, who has won two BPL titles, and therefore provides the winning mentality that Rodgers covets. This, coupled with a determined personality that yearns to prove his doubters wrong, I can see Toure being a vital part of our defence next season.

2.Simon Mignolet:
The official announcement from Rodgers states that Mignolet has arrived in order to provide real competition for Pepe Reina, but these words must be taken with a pinch of salt. Would any club really spend £10 million on a keeper who may or may not start games? I highly doubt it, and I can see Reina moving on this season. It is not a question of loyalty to the club, but of whether it is time to say goodbye to a legend, who unfortunately has only shown snippets of the brilliance of the past which places him in the bracket of the world’s best keepers. Mignolet is full of promise, and provided that the pressure of the step up to Anfield doesn’t get to him too much I can see him flourishing at Liverpool, particularly if he produces the sort of form that kept us out at the Stadium of Light.

3. Iago Aspas:
A dogged, determined character whom many liken to Luis Suarez, obviously not in the quality department, but in terms of mentality and spirit. However, a player who provided or scored 51% of his sides’ goals last season, saving them from relegation in the process is no mean feat. We have clearly invested in a man who has goals in him, and who is creative and can operate on the right, which would certainly be an upgrade on Downing. Indeed, having analysed several of Aspas’ assists, he creates many goals by pulling the ball back across the penalty area, which, if coupled with the Lampardesque manner of Henrikh Mkhitaryan (fingers crossed) could create a potentially devastating partnership.

4. Luis Alberto:
A mixed bag in many senses. Had a very successful season at Barcelona B, scoring eleven goals and making 17 assists, but can he make the step up from the Segunda to the Premier League. He clearly has bags of promise, and the potential to become an integral part of our attack, we just have to hope he does a Coutinho!