Selling the star striker, Luis Suarez to Barcelona early in this summer window, Liverpool have utilized that money to increase the depth of the squad.
The deals of Southampton pair, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana, Benfica’s Lazar Markovic and Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can had already been done and the moves for Southampton defender, Dejan Lovren, Lille striker, Divock Origi and QPR striker, Loic Remy are expected to be completed in the weekend. It is pretty clear that these ambitious moves have been made considering the champions league action back in Anfield.
Lallana was the latest player to be included in the injury list and so, the English midfielder is set to miss the start of the new season. Lallana’s injury doesn’t seem to be a concern for Liverpool and Rodgers as the Reds have the skillful, Philipe Coutinho as Lallana’s cover.
Lucas Leiva’s survival at Liverpool was followed by a big question mark at the end of last season as he dropped his place to captain, Steven Gerrard and in further, the arrival of Emre Can has taken the attribute of the question to greater heights. The 20-year old German has featured in two of the three preseason games for Liverpool so far and has effectively utilized the opportunity to prove him in the limited time offered.
Rodgers used plenty of formations including 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-1-3-2 last season to effectively utilize Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez last season. With Suarez has already left Liverpool, a question prevails around Anfield whether Rodgers would prefer Sturridge to play as a lone striker or the tactician would opt the replica of diamond played at the end of last season. It is worth mentioning that Liverpool had won three of the first five premier league games last season with 4-3-3 formation, in the absence of Suarez.
Despite Suarez winning the golden boot last term for his 31 premier league goals, there is a statistic reported by Opta that Sturridge’s goal alone won 20 points last season, more than any other player in the premier league and it proves the vital role of Sturridge in the team was crucial than that of Suarez’s.
The defense was identified fragile last season as Liverpool conceded a huge number of 50 premier league goals, which was almost 1.25 per game. In order to solidify the defense, Liverpool have identified Southampton’s Dejan Lovren as the solution and it is expected that the Lovren transfer would be completed before this weekend.
Encouraged with the electrifying pace of Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Lazar Markovic and Loic Remy, it is expected that Rodgers would play the same counter pressing style of football with his 4-4-2 formation, allowing Remy and Sturridge to lead the forward line.
Raheem Sterling’s pace has never been brought before the question mark, but the pace has already been found abundant in Sturridge, Remy and Markovic, possibly the above statement could make Rodgers to think to indulge technical-oriented Coutinho in the starting line up. Can would be the ideal back up for Jordan Henderson at any point of time.
