Tactics
Mignolet – Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren (Sakho), Gomez (Alberto Moreno) – Henderson (Emre Can) – Roberto Firmino (Markovic), Philippe Coutinho, Milner, Lallana (Ayb) – Benteke (Sturridge)
Brendan Rodgers traditionally has a lot of schemes in use, but lately he's increasingly leaning towards 4-1-4-1 with Jordan Henderson or Emre Can as the destroyer. It is not known how Rodgers will combine Benteke and Sturridge at the forefront of the attack, if the latter is healthy, but it is also possible to return to the 4-3-3 scheme, which was relevant under Sterling and Suarez.
Last season
, Liverpool lost Luis Suarez, who could not be replaced – the decision to spend money on quantitative strengthening of the squad, as it turned out later, did not bear fruit, which resulted in a generally disastrous season for the team, which had previously really claimed the championship.
In a good way, Liverpool looked decent only in the middle of the season, but the beginning and ending were unsuccessful, which led to the loss of a place in the Champions League, where the team seems to have returned a little early. At least, the disastrous performances of the Reds in European competitions, where they lost their place in the playoffs not only to Real Madrid, but also to Basel, had problems with Ludogorets, and then flew out of the league from Besiktas, hint at this.
The loss of Suarez was the main reason for the regression, but the unsuccessful transfer campaign also played a role – none of the newcomers bought with the money received from Barcelona played, and some like Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren ended up in the symbolic national team of the most useless waste of the season. And for them, by the way, they gave away a total of 56 million pounds!
After the "fun" send–off of Steven Gerrard, who was one of the few players who did not deserve criticism (also Henderson, sometimes Mignolet) Rogers was really afraid of losing his job, but the management decided to change almost the entire coaching staff, but to keep the manager for now.
Power
The team has potential, as shown by the match against Arsenal and the results of the first games of the season. This time, the transfer campaign was conducted much more wisely, and the newcomers are already benefiting, slowly settling into a new place. A positive role in their adaptation is also provided by the fact that after Gerrard's departure, Liverpool became a real clay for modeling – there are plenty of opportunities for all participants in the process to gain a foothold, as the game scheme is just being formed and there are many experiments ahead.
Weakness
But at the same time, the experiments that have been going on for the second season and the constant mass purchases are the main weakness of the current Liverpool. If Arsenal doesn't look good right now, but it's likely to get in shape soon, since Wenger has a lot of work to do, then Rodgers needs to rebuild the team. With Benteke's purchase, he has to build a more straightforward style of play, which is a bit surprising for a manager who has made a name for himself as a fan of tiki taki. So let's see how versatile and tactically savvy Brendan is.
Transfer activities
For the second summer in a row, Liverpool has lost one of its key players, who also leaves the club with some scandal and resentment. Yes, a lot of money is dripping into the cash register, but, firstly, it is spent immediately, secondly, all these scandalous departures of key players are hitting the image of the club, and thirdly, Liverpool is not spending them very well. And then, along with Sterling, Steven Gerrard's imminent departure happened. Yes, the captain probably left on time, but still, it's a huge loss for the Reds, no matter how you look at it.
They received substantial compensation for Sterling, even if they had to share it with the one who had brought up the now most expensive English player of QPR. And this time, it seems to me, the money was spent wisely. Maybe they had to pay too much for Benteke, but it was probably worth the effort, and the fact that Liverpool were able to hire Danny Ings and such a useful player as James Milner as free agents is an indicator of good work in the transfer market.
Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez immediately took up positions on the defensive flanks, where Liverpool have had problems in recent years. Milner made a promising pair for the England national team in the center of the field with the new captain Henderson. And there is Origi, Firmino, Ings, who has not yet been used, who must find themselves in the new team.
Lessons from the past
Fewer revolutions and more stability – maybe Liverpool will somehow steer towards a stable stay in the top 4. Activate the renowned 1xBet welcome bonus by applying a promo code. This action grants you a bonus of up to $130, depending on your deposit amount. The promo code for 1xbet is the crucial step that ensures you receive the maximum possible bonus. The $130 is a great way to mitigate early risks. You can use the bonus on various sports and casino games. It's an offer that provides real value. Secure your $130 welcome package today.