With the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season less than two weeks away, Premier League correspondent Richard Jolly provides his previews for each club. Here he looks at Liverpool.
• More: See all of Richard's previews
Jurgen Klopp’s second season at Anfield has the potential to be the opposite of the first and not just because the German, an October appointment, has had a pre-season and the chance to sign his players. Liverpool reached two Cup finals and played 63 games last season. Now, deprived of continental competition after their Europa League final defeat, they may play as few as 40.
After finishing eighth — Liverpool’s joint lowest position for 52 years — they can concentrate on the Premier League.
They used 39 players last season; now Klopp has the chance to focus on a first 11. Others may find themselves on the margins, especially now seven signings have been made.
Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum are the two costliest, arriving for a combined £55 million (Dh266.1m), and Klopp has so many attacking midfielders it prompts questions as to where all will fit in and if Daniel Sturridge figures in his strongest side, or if Roberto Firmino will be used as a striker again.
The defensive additions, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, may be back-ups but at least Klopp recognised that the sold Martin Skrtel was often a liability. But while Lorus Karius has arrived, many wanted to see a new first-choice goalkeeper.
Liverpool’s fortunes may depend upon a defence that has not always convinced and which conceded at least 10 goals too many last season.
• The National's Premier League section: All the latest from the Premier League, including news, interviews, features, and much more
Key Man: Mamadou Sakho
Formed a promising centre-back partnership with Dejan Lovren before missing the end of last season after taking the wrong slimming pill. Sent home from the pre-season tour for poor timekeeping, the Frenchman could be a cornerstone of the side or an outcast.
Pivotal Signing: Sadio Mane
Brought in after attempts to sign Mario Gotze failed, Mane is a long-term target of Klopp’s, has a record of scoring against top teams and offers pace and skill. But he has been too inconsistent.
Point to Prove: Alberto Moreno
The Spaniard was particularly poor in the League Cup and Europa League finals. Many Liverpool fans hoped Klopp would sign a new left-back this summer. Instead, Moreno has to justify his faith.
Crucial Factor: The first 10 games
Liverpool have only begun genuinely well once in the last seven years and then, in 2013/14, they mounted their only title challenge. Too often they have been playing catch-up, usually unsuccessfully. Now their first three games are away, because of the rebuilding of Anfield’s Main Stand, and they have early dates with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Predicted finish: 4th
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
