After losing 6-1 last season, Liverpool should be happy with a draw in the match up against Stoke. They also have a chance of European glory with everyone’s most hated tournament, the Europa League but, just like last season, the victor of the tournament would get a direct entry in the Champions League, that is just 13 or so games to get into the Champions League rather than a gruelling 38 game season. However, not one of them showed any signs of fulfilling their potential, and at that point, I would look at the coaching staff and ask whether they were doing something wrong. Their star performer, Raheem Sterling went for rivals Manchester City and the club icon Steven Gerrard joined MLS side LA Galaxy.
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After a good pre-season, Reds defender Joe Gomez revealed this week that he’s hoping for a starting berth against Stoke City this weekend, and ex-Red Jason McAteer feels that the £6m signing is “mature” enough to handle the pressure and physicality of the Premier League.
Don’t snigger. We’re still being serious. Aged 29 and with two Premier League titles to his name, the England global provides Liverpool with a level of experience and winning knowhow it requires in the post-Gerrard era. Perhaps that’s what Rodgers want, though?
“They have improved from last season, but it’s going to be tough”. Ings, Origi and Sturridge will score more than Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli, so the goals problem will be solved.
However, the purchases of Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke suggest Rodgers and his fellow committee members have this time made the right moves to ensure the team are not short of firepower. The new blood coming into the club are welcome additions to the first team, in what looks like a very strong Liverpool squad.
Who were you sad to see leave – and why? He is now the heartbeat of the team and has unrivalled dedication and energy when he’s on the pitch.
All things considered, one can not dismiss Liverpool for a title push, but it will come down to how they handle several key areas.
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Stoke City’s rise to the Premier League top half has gone under the radar in recent years; and under Mark Hughes the club’s transition to aesthetically pleasing style of play has too gone largely unnoticed. Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti are both now getting their golf handicaps down, and either man would represent a minty-fresh blast of air at a club still overwhelmed by that post-Suarez fug, an oppressive atmosphere of fin de siècle which Rodgers has, to date, been incapable of lifting. Liverpool boss now has to reshuffle his formation in order to accommodate his midfield and striker options as he looks to make the most out of Benteke’s abilities. We say every summer that they’re only a couple of players away from being where they want to be, and I think that is actually true. That cover, along with the much mentioned Milner, should give confidence to the more than capable Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, who at times suffer due to the lack of bite in front of them.
