Last season, Liverpool were easily the worst of the Premier League’s best teams. They disappointed their legacy, their fans, and essentially had a season to forget. Finishing 8th, their worst in 18 years, heavily jeopardised their status as one of the top clubs. Cup performances aside, they weren’t even close to a Champions League spot, and only qualified for the Europa League because they (and only just) won the Carling Cup (that’s something at least….right guys??).
So just a few weeks from the new season, what should we expect from the Old Kings of England?
Their biggest addition undoubtedly comes in the form of Brendan Rodgers. This guy brought Swansea into the EPL and not only kept them up, but shook up the entire table as they competed more than formidably and finished 11th. From a team that was expected to be the one of the newly promoted, with few people bothering to think about the next season for them. If he achieved that with the Swans, then surely Liverpool fans should be excited about what he can do with a few bigger stars and some more money. Experience however, has taught us (and especially Liverpool) not to be so brash with our hopes, strength in the past does not necessarily lead to success in the future.
Rodgers does freshen up the club with his unique, almost Spanish-like system. When Swansea were on song, they played really impressive, short pass, possession football, a polarising style that fits some of the Liverpool squad perfectly, whilst others (ahem…Carroll) will find it more difficult to adapt.
Joe Cole is a player I’ve always liked, and if he can find some form then he could thrive under Rodger’s system. Gerrard showed us in the Euros that he can still play some great football and will surely still be relied on to lead the way this season. Along with Suarez (antics aside), and a bunch of others, they do already have a decent foundation for Rodgers to work with, yet arguably not good enough to be considered a sure thing for a top six finish.
Big Andy Carroll is a big question mark at the moment. In a system that relies mainly on short passing and not a load of crossing, Carroll’s fortes aren’t really ideal. He could still be utilised effectively to screen and hold up the ball for the rest of the team. If Carroll stays, he’ll need to adapt, improve and ultimately be a killer finisher. That being said, leaving the club would probably be more beneficial to both parties.
The young Borini is a promising signing, and that he’s already (briefly) played under Rodgers at Swansea should be beneficial. Add the apparently “as-good-as-done-deals” of Joe Allen and Clint Dempsey, things will be falling into place quite nicely for the Reds. But a few more proven players are probably still needed if they’re to truly challenge for a Champion’s League place. They lack the depth and the well-rounded squads that City, Chelsea, United and even Arsenal boast. Thus for them to break into that top four, or even the top six, given the competitive and improving squads of Newcastle and the Spurs, is going to be a mighty difficult task.
You can never really predict how teams are going to perform once the season gets underway, so to try figure out how this “new” Liverpool will perform is somewhat aimless. Should Liverpool fans be excited for this season? Of course, which football fans aren’t hopeful for their team at the start of a season (maybe Milan at the moment…). If anything, the football they play will [presumably] be more attractive, more consistent, and surely, surely, won’t finish lower than 8th.
The Spot Kick 