The summer transfer window has come and gone and, discounting players now out on loan, Liverpool have a first-team squad of 31 players – including several youngsters that have been promoted on our official website and the likes of Jon Flanagan, who are unlikely to feature due to injury.
This inspired us to construct an American-inspired depth chart, which should show us which areas of our squad are the strongest and which are the weakest. We have used all 31 of our players in some capacity and attempt to discuss where each of them will fit into Brendan Rodgers’ plans this season.
We start below with our goalkeepers…
SEE MORE:
Five things we learned from Liverpool’s transfer window, including a change in spending tact
Opinion: Five players Liverpool should have targeted this summer
Opinion: The Liverpool XI which must start against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Goalkeeper
1) Simon Mignolet 2) Adam Bogan 3) Ryan Fulton
Our Belgian stopper was never likely to lose his number one spot after his fine end to last season. Bogdan should at least provide a little sterner competition than Brad Jones, while academy goalkeeper Fulton replaces Danny Ward as our number three following the Welshman’s loan move to Aberdeen.
Right-Back
1) Nathaniel Clyne 2) Joe Gomez 3) Kolo Toure 4) Jon Flanagan
It’s a good job that Clyne has started the season so well because there’s very little in the way of back up for the former Southampton man following Andre Wisdom’s latest loan move. Gomez is the most obvious understudy, having played there last season for Charlton, but he’s currently being utilised at left-back. Let’s hope that the long lost Jon Flanagan is back sooner rather than later!
Left-Back
1) Joe Gomez 2) Alberto Moreno 3) Jose Enrique 4) Jon Flanagan
Gomez’s form has been a pleasant surprise and one that probably ensured Rodgers would forgo our apparent need for a new left-back. Moreno remains in a back-up role, while he’s also been played in a more advanced left wing positions so far this season. Despite his fair share of deadline day drama (via the Echo), Enrique also remains with us, although it’s hard to see Rodgers being convinced to use him any time soon.
Centre-Back
1) Martin Skrtel 2) Dejan Lovren 3) Mamadou Sakho 4) Kolo Toure 5) Joe Gomez
There will be many a Liverpool fan currently lamenting the fact that we failed to sign a new centre-half during the summer transfer window, particularly after our disastrous showing against West Ham last time out. Lovren, despite a complete horror show last time out, has been steadily improving so far this season – while one hopes that Rodgers will see sense and give Sakho another chance soon. It’ll also be interesting to see how Gomez develops and whether he moves higher in this list over the course of the season.
Defensive Midfield
1) Lucas Leiva 2) Emre Can 3) Joe Allen 4) Jordan Rossiter
Despite a whole host of rumours linking him with a move away from the club (via The Guardian), Lucas is still with us and remains very much the only obvious choice for us in the holding midfield role. Can and Allen can both play there but perhaps lack the same levels of discipline that the Brazilian possesses. Rossiter’s promising cameo against Arsenal suggests that he could still be one for the future.
Centre Midfield
1) Jordan Henderson 2) James Milner 3) Emre Can 4) Joe Allen 5) Jordan Rossiter
James Milner has come in to help fill the void left by Steven Gerrard’s summer departure and has immediately begun to look at home alongside captain Jordan Henderson – whose absence through injury won’t have helped us against West Ham. Can looks set to be used as a midfielder, rather than a defender this season, while Allen should also be due back from injury in the coming weeks.
Right Wing
1) Jordon Ibe 2) Jordan Henderson 3) Ryan Kent
There’s a distinctive lack of width in this Liverpool squad. Jordon Ibe is the only out-and-out wide man who’s going to hug the touchline, cut inside when the opportunity arises and cause real problems with pace and power. Rodgers is very much reliant on his full-backs to get forward if Ibe isn’t playing, with Henderson and Milner the only two central midfield players who are likely to be capable of drifting on to the flank if the need arises. Perhaps it would be worth taking a closer look at academy starlet Ryan Kent, who’s not yet agreed a loan move elsewhere. In terms of depth though, having an out of form teenager as the only right-winger is pretty average.
Left Wing
1) Adam Lallana 2) Philippe Coutinho 3) Alberto Moreno
The problem is arguably worse on the left-hand side, where we lack any natural options. Too often we’ve seen the likes of Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho dragged out of position to occupy a role on the flank and we’re simply not going to see the best of such players if we continue to do this. Using Moreno further forward is perhaps something that’s worth investigating further.
Attacking Midfield
1) Philippe Coutinho 2) Roberto Firmino 3) Adam Lallana 4) Joao Carlos Teixeira 5) Cameron Brannagan
We’re very well stocked in the attacking midfield position. The only problem is going to be fitting Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana – arguably three of our best players – into the same team, without pushing two of them out wide. Sadly, common sense tells you that at least one of them will always have to be on the bench. Teixeira and Brannagan, who have both impressed with the academy side over the years, will be hoping to take any chance they get to impress – be that in the Europa League, the League Cup, or elsewhere.
Striker
1) Christian Benteke 2) Daniel Sturridge 3) Danny Ings 4) Divock Origi 5) Jerome Sinclair 6) Jack Dunn
Sturridge’s imminent return from injury will give Rodgers an interesting dilemma up front, as he considers how to best utilise his restocked front line. Ings and Origi, who like Benteke are also new additions to the squad this year (with Origi having spent his first season with us away on loan), have only managed half an hour of football between them during our first four league games and will also be pushing for their chance. Sinclair, who was used a couple of times by Rodgers towards the end of last season, has been plunged back down the pecking order following a contract dispute (via the Echo), while his fellow academy graduate, Dunn, makes up the numbers.
