{"id":549,"date":"2016-07-11T13:10:12","date_gmt":"2016-07-11T13:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andcouldheplay.com\/?p=549"},"modified":"2016-07-13T11:16:57","modified_gmt":"2016-07-13T11:16:57","slug":"liverpool-football-club-pre-season-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andcouldheplay.com\/liverpool-football-club-pre-season-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool Football Club: Pre-Season So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest, a 1-0 win over Tranmere doesn\u2019t tell us much. Most Merseysiders might have a soft spot for the Wirral-based club, but they\u2019re not even in the Football League any more so they were never really going to put up much of a fight. Aside from the match, though, much has been going on at Liverpool Football Club.<\/p>\n

It is now just over eight weeks since the end of the 2015-2016 Premier League season and just under four weeks until the start of the 2016-2017 campaign. It seems like a good time, then, to check in and see how the club\u2019s pre-season preparations are going. How\u2019s the squad looking? What\u2019s going on behind the scenes? Are we ready to mount a challenge on the Premier League title? I\u2019ve had a look.<\/p>\n

The Playing Squad<\/h2>\n

There are many, many things that influence how a football club plays and copes with the demands of a Premier League season, but there\u2019s little question that one of the key components to any degree of success is the squad that will take to the field. With more than a few signings already done and dusted, what state is J\u00fcrgen Klopp\u2019s squad in and what other changes can we expect to see in the coming weeks?<\/p>\n

The Incomings<\/h3>\n

As I have discussed in greater detail in my transfer rumour blogs of late, Liverpool have quietly done exactly what we need them to do so far this transfer window. It\u2019s true that the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United have been bringing in big names that sound scary and worrying, but the Reds have decided against the method of big names in favour of fortifying the positions that need to be fortified.<\/p>\n

Leicester City burst the bubble of modern football when they won the league title last season. They showed everyone that you can achieve incredible things if you have a team that can work together rather than a side filled with talented individuals. If any set of supporters should be excited by that right now then it\u2019s Liverpool fans. We have a manager who believes in exactly that quality from his team, combined with owners who prefer building a collective to buying in world-class superstars.<\/p>\n

\"mooinblack

mooinblack \/ shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

At the end of last season it was abundantly clear that we needed a new goalkeeper who could play on the front foot and instil confidence in his defence. Loris Karius was one of the Bundesliga\u2019s hottest prospects and seems to tick exactly those boxes. I\u2019m not happy that John Achterberg\u2019s still at the club, but you feel as though one more dodgy season will be enough for him to be shown the door. Goalkeeper needed, goalkeeper sorted.<\/p>\n

It was also evident that the defence needed work. With Martin Skrtel long past his best and Kolo Toure turning 60, Liverpool\u2019s backline needed severe improvement and the arrival of Joel Matip should give us exactly that. If Joe Gomez has recovered from his ACL injury in the manner that seems to be suggested then he\u2019s a young prospect that we can turn to in cup games, too. Add the return from Jon Flanagan from injury to that list and the possible arrival of another left-back and you\u2019ve got reasons to feel happy about things at the back. Defence needed tweaking, defence has been tweaked.<\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Skrtel<\/p><\/div>\n

Klopp\u2019s teams of the past have depended on one thing that last season\u2019s Liverpool team simply didn\u2019t have: pace. The arrival of Sadio Man\u00e9 gives us not only some speed on the flank but also the ability to finish. The return of Lazar Markovic from his loan spell adds to the sense of a quick transition being possible, with his youth meaning he could develop well under Klopp\u2019s tutelage. Danny Ings is no slouch and Daniel Sturridge is getting his speed back with every day that he puts his injury problems behind him. I expect another quick player to be signed before the end of August, too. Speed required, speed attained.<\/p>\n

The middle of the park is the one area that still needs work, but I\u2019m not too worried about that. Presuming that Klopp plays with one striker, as he seems to favour, you\u2019re looking at five positions to be filled by any one of Coutinho, Firmino, Henderson, Lallana, Man\u00e9, Milner, Can, Markovic and the newly signed Marko Grujic, to say nothing of youngsters like Ojo and Branagan who have started knocking on the door of the first team dressing room recently. I do think we\u2019ll get one more in here, too, and that will be the icing on the proverbial cake, perhaps named Zielinski? Options wanted, options available.<\/p>\n

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smileimage9 \/ shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

When you look at our attack we haven\u2019t brought anyone in, but the return of Ings from injury, the lack of fitness problems for Sturridge since Klopp managed him perfectly last season and the emergence of Divock Origi as a genuine option up front means we\u2019re hardly lacking up top. Firmino and Man\u00e9 can also play as the striker if needs be, too, so Klopp has got plenty of choices as far as lads who can score the goals are concerned. I\u2019m not convinced that we\u2019ll bring anyone else in attacking-wise, but I\u2019m also not sure we need it. I think Ings will prove to be the breakout player of the season.<\/p>\n

The Outgoings<\/h3>\n

In the wake of the game against Tranmere J\u00fcrgen Klopp said the following:<\/p>\n

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Klopp: “We had 20 players at the game, we had 3 or 4 at home & 14 still on holiday, so that\u2019s 38 & 100% too much. We’ll see (transfers).”<\/p>\n

\u2014 Viktor Fagerstr\u00f6m (@ViktorFagerLFC) July 8, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n