Liverpool rebuilding on and off the pitch
The impressive new tier to the Main Stand stands as a testament to the reinvigoration of Liverpool Football Club. Fenway Sports Group have not only employed the cranes and wrecking ball crews to improve the capacity of the stadium, they have also employed Jürgen Klopp to redesign the current playing squad.
Klopp has a solid record this season considering he has not brought in new signings since his arrival—Joel Matip and Marko Grujic arrive this summer. The loan move for Steven Caulker and the recalls of loanees like Danny Ward and Tiago Ilori were only implemented in the middle of a squad injury crisis. The manager has not yet truly tinkered with the squad he inherited. Two cup final appearances later and an impressive home unbeaten run since the end of January indicate that the Reds have been improved under Klopp’s guidance. There is, however, much work to be done at Liverpool.
Currently eighth in the Premier League and only a few points above the record low of 51 points in the 2011-12 season, the squad desperately needs to be improved. Klopp has already shrewdly secured the signing of centre-back Joël Matip on a free transfer. The German-born Cameroon international stands at 6 ft 4 and has been a commanding defensive presence for Schalke over the last few seasons. With the expected departures of Martin Skrtel and Kolo Touré, coupled with the troubling Mamadou Sakho situation, Matip is a crucial addition to the squad.
Marko Grujić, another of Klopp’s early signings, has just won the Serbian league with his current club Red Star Belgrade. The young Serbian midfielder is also a World Cup under 20 winner and will find a mentor at Anfield in the guise of assistant coach Zeljko Buvac.
Other confirmed additions to Klopp’s squad next season include the returning Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Lazar Marković. These three will present enhanced options for Klopp in attacking zones with the pacey dribbling of Marković, Ings’ accomplished finishing and pressing, and defensively the versatility of Gomez at full-back or centre-back.
The areas which need to be looked at are as follows:
Goalkeeper
Adam Bogdan will be moved on and Danny Ward doesn’t seem to fill Klopp with confidence yet, he may be loaned out again. Expect to see Timo Horn or another well rated goalkeeper challenging Simon Mignolet for the number one spot next season.
Midfield
Lucas and Joe Allen will most likely move on in the summer, and if a blockbuster offer comes in for Philippe Coutinho or Adam Lallana, Liverpool may well need a new midfield maestro. Mario Götze would fit this bill perfectly and his prior footballing relationship with Klopp may be the edge Liverpool need in order for him to sign.
Striker
Christian Benteke is a bit of an enigma. He scores important goals but doesn’t get a lot of playing time under Klopp. His style may be unsuited to the heavy metal football Klopp prefers, so a solid bid received for him may see the Belgian depart in the next transfer window.
That would leave Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings as the main strikers at the club. All three (particularly Sturridge) have had recent injury problems, which may force Klopp into signing another top class striker. Expect him to go for talent he can develop in this position, with perhaps the signing of Michy Batshuayi from Marseille.
Liverpool will need to cut loose senior underperformers and younger fringe players in order to make room for at least three more key signings. This process has already started with the early release of senior professional José Enrique. More squad releases and departures such as Jordan Rossiter to Rangers are to be expected. It is imperative that Liverpool return to challenging annually for the top four positions in the Premier League and secure regular Champions League football.
