Three wins from three pre-season friendlies and a host of new signings have left Liverpool fans feeling far more positive than they were on the final day of last term – when Stoke obliterated us 6-1 at the Britannia.
Our most impressive six players of the Tour so far include three new arrivals, which shows how quickly they’ve settled.
Would you agree with the ordering of this list, Reds?
6) Jordon Ibe
The young flyer struggled in the monsoon-like conditions of the opening match against Thai All-Stars, but his performances in Australia made us extend this list from a five to a six-manner. Ibe’s direct running and pace during his cameo against Brisbane Roar earned him a start versus Adelaide, and he took the chance with both hands – consistently running with the ball and beating defenders. His cross for James Milner led to our opening goal of that match, too. A readymade Raheem Sterling replacement if there ever was one.
5) Nathaniel Clyne
Clyne’s first performances in a Liverpool shirt indicate that we may have fixed the right-back problem for the foreseeable. Most telling has been his ability to quickly press opposing wingers, which sets the tone for us to win the ball back and play on the counter. He’s been happy to maraud the right flank, but has not been a defensive liability, as the man he’s replaced, Glen Johnson, often was.
4) Jordan Henderson
Last season it looked like Henderson truly enjoyed the armband, and flourished when in its possession. That’s not to say he should have had it from Steven Gerrard, but with the legendary skipper departing to MLS, it couldn’t have gone to a better player. In pre-season, Henderson’s well and truly led the side – vocally, and by example – covering every blade of grass and giving our foreign fans the show they deserve. We hope the captaincy helps the England international continue making strides.
3) Adam Lallana
With Coutinho and Roberto Firmino to arrive in attacking midfield, there’s no guarantee Lallana will be a starter next term, despite Raheem Sterling’s £49m sale. But in their absence due to Copa America participation, the 27-year-old has given Brendan Rodgers a serious selection headache. Deployed on the left of the 4-3-3 we’re likely to start the season with, Lallana scored versus Thai All-Stars with a driven left-footed shot, before a great piece of skill followed by a curling effort saw him notch against Brisbane, too. His technical and shooting ability makes him a different, more intricate option than Jordon Ibe or Divock Origi down the left – and his fantastic pre-season could see Rodgers drop Coutinho into a deeper role in the midfield three to accommodate Lallana.
2) Joe Gomez
It’s hard to believe that some fans were moaning when an unknown Championship defender was signed earlier this summer. But Gomez’s £3.5m arrival represented the ‘non-marquee’ signing that has grown to frustrate many Reds. His form shown in the first three matches of pre-season however will have completely shut any doubters up. Gomez shone on the right of defence first up, displaying a physical maturity that belies his age – before shifting to left-back versus the two Australian sides – and arguably doing even better. Gomez is composed on the ball, skilful, quick and positions himself excellently. All this, and he’s actually naturally a centre-back. We have another supremely talented youngster on our hands, Reds.
1) James Milner
Because we signed him on a Bosman, Manchester City essentially gave us £49m plus James Milner for Raheem Sterling this summer – which sounds like pretty outstanding business. One of the reasons the multi-capped 29-year-old chose us was a promise of central midfield football, and he’s been used in the middle three alongside Henderson, ahead of an anchorman so far. And from this position, he’s done everything expected of him and more. Providing box-to-box intensity, Milner’s provided countless, sprayed long passes to supplement incomparable work-rate. On top of this, he’s managed to get himself in the opposition box and score two goals as well – making the kind of central runs that typified Steven Gerrard before his legs went and he dropped deeper. Many were crying out for a direct Gerrard replacement this summer, but in Milner – hopefully we have one.