There are just two weeks to go until the start of the new Premier League season and our squad looks to be taking shape very nicely indeed.
Indeed, the addition of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa could well prove to be our last incoming transfer of the summer, as Brendan Rodgers begins to weigh up his options ahead of the new campaign.
The boss has brought in seven new players in total and we finally look to have built some strength in depth – something that we’ve been sorely lacking over the last couple of years, even during the 2013-14 campaign, when we finished second in the league behind Manchester City.
In many ways, it’s been a very positive couple of months for us as a club. The pre-season tour of the Far East has been a success – with three wins out of four – and with a week of training between now and our next friendly game, now feels like a good time to stop and take stock of what’s currently at our disposal.
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So, with that in mind, here’s our ultimate guide to Liverpool’s new-look side. We’ve included strengths, weaknesses and highlighted any areas that could still potentially be improved by the time the window closes.
Here we go…
Goalkeepers:
First Choice: Simon Mignolet
Back-Up: Adam Bogdan, Ryan Fulton
Analysis: With Mignolet having redeemed himself during the second-half of last season, the Belgian was always likely to remain our number one for a third successive campaign. Our focus was instead was turned towards finding a suitable rival for his position, following Brad Jones’ departure.
Bogdan has looked decent during pre-season and should do a similar job to that the Australian performed for so many years. We’d all like to have two world class stoppers competing week in, week out for the number one spot, but very few teams ever have this – and those that do can rarely keep their two players happy.
Conclusion: We should be happy with what we have. If Mignolet can’t keep his consistency over the course of a full season then it might be worth considering a move for an alternative number one next summer.
Right-Backs:
First Choice: Nathaniel Clyne
Back-Up: Andre Wisdom, Joe Gomez
Analysis: It’s been all change at right-back this summer, a position which we regularly struggled with last season. Out have gone Glen Johnson and Javier Manquillo, while in have come Nathaniel Clyne and Andre Wisdom – back with us following the completion of his season-long loan spell with West Brom.
Wisdom, who has spent two years out on loan, will be eager to avoid spending another year away from Anfield. However, he could find chances hard to come by following the arrivals of Clyne and Joe Gomez, who has impressed on both the right and left side of defence during pre-season.
Conclusion: This was a position that needed to be strengthened and has been done so admirably. Emre Can and Kolo Toure can also provide cover here, so we’re not going to be short of options. The big question is whether Rodgers can keep Wisdom happy at playing a bit-part role during such an important time in his career.
Left-Backs:
First Choice: Alberto Moreno
Back-Up: Joe Gomez, Jose Enrique
Analysis: Left-back will also have been a concern for Rodgers at the end of last season. Moreno probably did just about enough to earn himself another the season. The Spaniard is, after all, still young and relatively inexperienced and needs time to adapt to life in English football.
With Joe Gomez likely to be breathing down his neck for a spot in the team as well, following his fine performances during our first four pre-season games, there will be extra motivation for Moreno to up his level of performance and show us what he’s truly capable of on a consistent basis.
Conclusion: There’s still a very inexperienced feel about our left-hand side, something which will concern Rodgers, especially ahead of big games. Moreno made a couple of major errors at bad moments last season and we’re yet to see Gomez tested against that same standard of opposition. Jose Enrique may well be kept around to try and help them, at least until Jon Flanagan is back from injury.
Centre-Backs:
First Choice: Martin Skrtel & Mamadou Sakho
Back-Up: Dejan Lovren, Kolo Toure, Tiago Ilori
Analysis: Bringing in a new centre-back this summer was always going to be low on Rodgers’ priority list. He’s spent big money on Lovren and Sakho over the last two years and it seems unlikely that he’d ditch either player at such an early stage, despite their respective problems with form and fitness.
However, the boss won’t have been comforted by what he’s seen from either player during pre-season. Sakho gives the ball away far too often in dangerous positions, while Lovren still looks inexplicably nervous. With only the veteran Toure and the inexperienced Ilori proving our other back-up options, it could be a tough year ahead.
Conclusion: Following our summer signings, this is probably the most pressing area of concern for most Liverpool supporters. There aren’t many good options out there for strengthening and, tellingly, we’ve not really been linked with anyone over the course of the summer. This could be a case of being stuck with what we’ve got.
Defensive Midfielders:
First Choice: Emre Can
Back-Up: Lucas Leiva
Analysis: It will be interesting to see where Emre Can envisages himself playing next season. In my mind, this would be his most natural position – somewhere he could be the tough-tackling, physical midfield presence that we’ve been so sorely missing since the departure of Javier Mascherano – with the greatest of respects to Lucas.
The Brazilian is still more than capable of doing a job and his experience could prove invaluable on the big occasion. He could be a good mentor for Can moving forward, helping him work on the more defensive side of his game, while keeping those marauding runs forward going as well.
Conclusion: Lucas is the only natural holding player currently in our squad. Following a year of playing in defence, there are no guarantees that Can will take to such a role. It seems unlikely that we’ll bring in anyone before the season starts, but this could be the first port of call come the January window if the German can’t make it work.
Central Midfielders:
First Choice: James Milner & Jordan Henderson
Back-Up: Joe Allen
Analysis: The Milner-Henderson partnership has been looking excellent in pre-season. Milner has scored twice in his first four appearances, while Henderson has not looked at all concerned at the presence of the captain’s armband around his bicep – his unbelievable rabona to set up Lallana in Thailand the clear highlight.
It leaves Joe Allen in a very tenuous position on the fringes of the first-team. With Gerrard having only been used in a bit-part role last season, the Welshman got plenty of chances, but with Milner having now arrived those opportunities are going to become less frequent. It will be interesting to see how he responds next month.
Conclusion: You can’t help but feel that we’re a body short in midfield. Can could no doubt push further forward, while the likes of Lallana and Coutinho have proven in the past that they’re capable of dropping back. But we’re arguably missing that deep-lying midfield playmaker, a Xabi Alonso type, now Steven Gerrard’s gone.
Attacking Midfielders:
First Choice: Philippe Coutinho & Roberto Firmino
Back-Up: Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe, Lazar Markovic
Analysis: We’re very well stocked in this position, despite the departure of Raheem Sterling earlier this summer. The signing of Roberto Firmino and the rapid rise of Jordon Ibe have left Rodgers with plenty to consider ahead of the new season. One thing that’s for sure – it’s hard not to feel sorry for Lazar Markovic.
The Serbian looks to be very much fifth choice, with only two positions likely to be up for grabs between the midfield trio and the lone striker. With Daniel Sturridge also potentially eyeing up one of these spots, in order to accommodate the signing of Christian Benteke, it could be a long way back for the former Benfica man.
Conclusion: It will be interesting to see whether Markovic is going to be loaned out to try and restore some of his no doubt broken confidence. He’s got less than 60 minutes on the pitch in pre-season so far, despite scoring our opening goal in Thailand, and things might not improve for him if he simply stays put.
Strikers:
First Choice: Christian Benteke
Back-Up: Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Divock Origi
Analysis: Sturridge’s injury problems will at least delay one selection headache for Rodgers. If Benteke starts the season well, then he has clear reason for sticking with the Belgian even after Sturridge’s return from injury. If he doesn’t, then the Englishman should be in line to come back in to the side.
If both are fit and firing at some stage this season, it will be interesting to see whether Rodgers changes formation and goes with two up front, as he did with great success when Luis Suarez was here. However, due to the style of player Benteke is, it’s entirely possible that Sturridge will get forced out wide or dropped deeper.
Conclusion: Danny Ings and Divock Origi will provide the back-up options for our main pair, leaving the likes of Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini very much surplus to requirements. Whether buyers can be found for those players remains to be seen.
