5 things Liverpool need to do to challenge for the Premier League title next season

Liverpool have had quite a season this time around. From losing their premier playmaker in the middle of the season to reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League, they’ve surpassed a lot of expectations.

The Reds under Jürgen Klopp will go into the new season with a strong core established for the team, with arguably the best attacking front three in Europe, world’s most expensive center-back, and players willing to play according to Klopp’s exhilarating tactics.

Mo Salah’s transfer has been an incredibly successful one as his production levels have been right up there alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s scored 32 goals in the Premier League, breaking the record for most goals scored in a 38 game Premier League season, and has been the ultimate protagonist in Jurgen's third tenure.

With Naby Keita arriving next season, Klopp will have a midfielder at his disposal who can alternate between being a ball carrier and a ball winner with aplomb. The kind that suits the system that Klopp uses at the club.

Here are some of the numbers which back that claim up. Naby Keita boasts of one of the highest numbers of dribbles attempted per game, averaging to about 2.5 per match, in his 27 appearances for Leipzig this season in the Bundesliga. He also averages about 2.5 successful tackles per game. The 23-year-old, with an eye for a pass, and is the perfect addition to what has been a rather inconsistent and average midfield.

Liverpool's goal should be to expand on all the good things that they already have going for them and to improve their weaknesses and consolidate on their strengths.

One would’ve thought Coutinho leaving would leave a gaping hole in their midfield, and the team in general, but it did not. Liverpool struck with the same confidence as before, if not more. They’ve absolutely outclassed some clubs in Europe this season, setting a record for the highest scoring Champions League campaign.

The Reds also hold the record for the most goals by a front trio (29), set by Firmino, Mane, and Salah. Klopp had his Dortmund team of 2012 win the Bundesliga against the outright favourites of the competition, Bayern, who boasted of a better team. There is no reason to think he can’t do the same if he’s able to fulfill the demands of his team this transfer window.

Here are the top 5 things Pool need to focus on if they want to win England’s most prestigious title.

#5 A proper Defensive midfielder

Ndidi: Young, strong and fast.

Liverpool’s defensive midfield options include an out of form Jordan Henderson, a makeshift DM in Emre Can, and a box to box midfielder in Gini Wijnaldium. One could’ve hoped Can will be the answer to the team’s lack of a defensive midfielder seeing his improvement in the position, but he looks Juventus-bound in search for game time after his contract runs out this summer.

Playing without a good screening midfielder has really hurt Liverpool in a lot of games this season, where they haven’t been able to stop the opposition from creating chances from the midfield and nor have they been able to win the second ball after a dual.

A prime example of this was their game against Manchester City in the first half of the season. Someone they should be looking at right now is Leicester City’s Ndidi. The young Nigerian arrived in Leicester in the window transfer window of 2017, debuting in a 2-1 win against Everton.

Physically imposing, good in the air, can shoot from distance, and an out-and-out workhorse, Wilfred Ndidi fits the Klopp profile and will be worth everything the club spends on him.

#4 A decent backup for the CB position:

VVD is an expensive defender, and he is playing like it

Liverpool spent 75 million Pounds on the centre back of their desire this January. After a long fought transfer, Virgil Van Dijk arrived to Merseyside, and almost immediately replaced any other contenders for the starting spot in that position. Another something that came as a delight was how Lovren had started to play we when paired with the Dutchman. Lovren and VVD have made a pretty good centre back pairing this season, and have surpassed any other pairing in the last few seasons. What Liverpool need now is a versatile centre back, decent enough to replace them when necessary.

Options Liverpool can look for in this position are Savic or Marlon. Marlon, who is out on loan from Barcelona at Nice currently will be great option for this position. He’s a player who has good potential, and a very high ceiling.

Even though Savic is a better option, it’ll be tough to get him from Atletico, who themselves faced centre back crisis this season.

An upgrade over Lovren, and arguably Van Dijk, too, will be Toby Alderwerield. The Belgian CB has not got enough game time this season, and is looking for a move out. Even though he will come pretty costly, Toby will make Liverpool's defence formidable.

#3 Another central midfielder:

Andre Gomes: Underperforming?

There is absolutely no doubt that Naby Keita will slot into this midfield with absolute ease, but one great midfielder cannot run the show alone. There is no way Pool will be able to challenge for the title with midfielders like Ox and Gini. One might argue that Ox has been a revelation, but given his injury prone, inconsistent past, there's no reason that Liverpool shouldn't go for another CM.

An upgrade over them could be Fabian Ruiz. He has been an integral part in Betis' overachieving campaign. Playing for Betis, he has bagged 3 goals and 6 assists in the Liga season, and has been their best midfielder bar none. Fabian will suit Liverpool's attacking, risky brand of football.

Another option for this role could be Andre Gomes, who, even though has not been able to replicate his Valencia self, will face a lot less pressure at Liverpool and will only improve. Another reason Gomes will be the ideal midfielder is because he’s still a young, half decent, two footed box to box midfielder, a resume Liverpool cannot turn down without thinking.

#2 A better option upfront:

Zaza is ready to put his body on the line if that means getting a goal

While Liverpool’s first choice forwards have been coming up with goals and assists every match, it’ll be fair to say the backup options aren’t just good enough. Solanke is too inexperienced to be their quality sub and is a player with a really low ceiling.

On the other hand, Ings’ stats really speak for themselves. The two combined, have a total of two goals and an assist in 20+ appearances in total. That being said, Klopp should go for someone who presses high, gets at the end of crosses and loose ball, and can drop deep to defend. Valencia’s number 9, Simeone Zaza checks all these boxes to and beyond expectation. The big man is a versatile player, and can even play on the wings if necessary. Zaza is strong and physically imposing in the air, something Liverpool's frontline lack currently.

#1 Not losing their key players:

Coutinho was a very important part of this Liverpool side

Luis Suarez, Phillipe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano.

A small list of players who left Liverpool after having some really good spells at Merseyside. Emre Can may be next. And it’d be really difficult to say no to Real Madrid when they come knocking with 200million for Salah. While Can leaving won’t hurt them a lot, Salah will leave behind a void next to impossible to fill even if that means a lot of cash coming in. This is primarily because of the lack of silverware the club from England has to offer. These players leave in search of a place where they can develop their potential and win medals.

Jürgen Klopp will have to do his level best and try and retain his key players for next season if he wants to go head to head with financial giants like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United.