How’ve you rated the summer signings so far…?
All season long the media has slaughtered Liverpool’s summer signings, and at times, the fans have jumped on their backs as well…
Following the mega-money sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, we splashed a well publicised £113m on nine summer signings who’ve so far failed to alleviate us to the heights we reached last season.
Some of the individual criticism has been unjust though, and here’s why we think our huge summer of business might not have been so bad after all…
(We’ve listed them from highest transfer fee, to lowest (with loaned out Divock Origi at the bottom).)
1) Adam Lallana
This one’s pretty easy, actually. Since recovering from an injury that meant Lallana missed pre-season and the early stages of the campaign, the 26-year-old has got progressively better and better. He did only an ‘ok’ job on the left wing originally, but this isn’t his natural position… Since being deployed more centrally in our 3-4-3 formation, the £26m man has thrived, and started to show exactly why we shelled out so much cash on him. In the top flight, he’s scored more than Angel di Maria, Samir Nasri or Cesc Fabregas so far this term, and he was particularly sublime in our latest fixture – a 4-1 win over Swansea. He works tirelessly, is wonderfully two-footed, technically excellent, tactically versatile and will clearly give his all to the team. What’s not to like?
2) Dejan Lovren
Unlike Lallana, Lovren is probably the hardest man on this list to defend. He cost £20m, but has not been an improvement on the departed Daniel Agger. Not in the slightest, in fact. The Croat has looked nervous on the ball, has made mistakes, and has been positionally questionable. However, all is not lost. He proved during 2013/14 that he IS a top defender, and that he CAN cut it in the Premier League. Lovren does have the required attributes to succeed. His ease on the ball suits him to our passing game, and he proved at Southampton that he can lead a defence, too. The 25-year-old is currently out of the side injured, and a rest will likely do him good. If he really can’t cut the mustard at Anfield, we have a similarly left-footed centre-back in Mamadou Sakho who could develop into a seriously good defender, anyway.
3) Lazar Markovic
It wasn’t Markovic’s fault that we spent £20m on him, and it’s vital to remember that he’s only 20-years-old. He’s younger than Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Chelsea’s Lucas Piazon (currently on loan) – who are both regularly forgiven questionable performances due to their age. While he didn’t do very much early on, he didn’t really get the chance too, either. Before the Manchester United game mid-December, he’d only made two Premier League starts. Since getting the nod v the Red Devils, he’s shown serious promise, however. The Serb bagged a lovely goal in the League Cup which capped an excellent performance at left-wing-back, and in the unnatural position; he’s shown that he’s rapid, comfortable in possession, and works for the team. Markovic has plenty of time to justify his transfer fee…
3) Mario Balotelli
The Italian HAS tried since his £16m summer arrival, but it’s just not happened for him. No Premier League goals have seen him labelled a flop, but he has notched a couple in the Cups. Balotelli should be judged though when het gets a chance to start alongside Daniel Sturridge. The pair have only played together once due to Sturridge’s lengthy injury – and we beat Spurs 3-0 away from home in the fixture. The pair dovetailed nicely, and Balotelli has openly admitted that he way prefers playing next to a strike partner. When Sturridge is fit again, we could use the diamond that worked so brilliantly in 2013/14, with Raheem Sterling behind the two forwards.
5) Alberto Moreno
Moreno is clearly extremely talented, and we’ve got huge hope for him. From left-back he’s already scored two superb goals – including an absolute blinder against Spurs early on. His work-rate and energy is phenomenal, and we can forgive his few defensive mishaps on an unfamiliarity with the English game, and a questionable defence to play alongside. The 22-year-old also suits a multitude of styles, as he can play as natural full-back in a 4-3-3, or a more exciting wing-back in a 3-4-3, where he did so very well versus Swansea last time out.
6) Emre Can
Can’s been used sparingly; but in a number of different roles, he’s shown versatility and serious physical prowess. The 20-year-old German fired a long-distance strike in against Chelsea when used as a midfielder, and he’s slotted in beautifully into our current back-three, as well. Can will be at Anfield for years to come.
7) Rickie Lambert
Lambert cost very little, and was never going to be a long-term solution anyway. He provides an aerial, physical threat from the bench, where he’ll sit happily without stirring up a fuss. He’s an England international, and he’s notched twice in seven Premier and Champions League starts altogether. By no means jaw-dropping, but respectable, at least.
8) Javier Manquillo
Manquillo was a risk-free signing. He cost no money, but we’ll have him on loan for two seasons, in which time we’ll be able to decide whether to sign him permanently or not. At right-back, he’s done everything you could expect from an unexperienced 20-year-old, and averages the most interceptions per game, and the second most tackles (behind Lucas) in the squad. Arguably an improvement on Glen Johnson, anyway.
9) Divock Origi
Origi wasn’t cheap (£10m – roughly), but he’s potentially going to be a truly excellent player, so the fee could prove a snip. While we’ve been short up top at points this term, we can’t have really expected the 19-year-old Belgian to solve all our woes, and it’s better that he’s playing regular first-team football for Lille in France. He’ll arrive next summer, when he’ll be a wholly more rounded footballer.
