There’s not long to go until the season kicks off, and the team is really starting to take shape now that everyone is arriving back from their holidays and the new transfers are settling in.
There are still a couple of areas we could arguably do with strengthening, but we’ve got a lot more strength and depth than we had last season.
It’s been a pretty successful transfer window so far, and in the list below we’ve taken a look at exactly how much strength in depth we have and where all the new players will fit in.
Goalkeepers:
First Choice: Loris Karius
Back-Up: Simon Mignolet, Alex Manninger
Mignolet will be hoping to keep his starting spot when the season starts, but the general consensus is that Karius has been brought in to displace the Belgian.
Manninger is unlikely to get too much of a look in, with Jurgen Klopp revealing that the former Arsenal man was simply brought in as a fail-safe and to provide experience (via Liverpool FC).
Conclusion: It’s fantastic that we’ve finally got some real competition for Mignolet, and hopefully both keepers push each other and both are kept on their toes.
Right-Back:
First Choice: Nathaniel Clyne
Back-up: Joe Gomez, Connor Randall
Nathaniel Clyne is unquestionably one of the best right-backs in the league, and we can feel safe knowing we’ve got him racing up and down the flank. Our other options in that position are a little more questionable, as they are either unproven or have struggled with serious injury.
Conclusion: Our first choice is phenomenal, but if something were to happen to Clyne then we’d be in pretty uncertain and potentially worrying territory.
Left-Back:
First Choice: Alberto Moreno
Back-Up: Brad Smith, Ragnar Klavan, Joe Gomez
Arguably our weakest position at the moment, and unfortunately one that badly needs addressing. Alberto Moreno gets a lot of criticism from pundits and fans alike, but he’s certainly our best option at the moment. Klavan can play left-back, but it’s certainly not his best position and probably not what he’s been brought in for. Smith seems likely to be sold (via ESPN), so our options in that department are pretty limited.
Conclusion: If Klopp isn’t working very hard to sign another left-back this summer then there could be problems, especially if we were to suffer an injury.