FIFA 17 will be released worldwide by the end of September and the football universe is eagerly waiting for it. It has a lot of changes from the previous version of the game and the most notable one is the use of the Frostbite engine. Lionel Messi was the cover star for the previous four versions of the game but this time, it will be German international Marco Reus.
Even though Liverpool are not the formidable force that they once were, the Reds still have a huge fanbase. Liverpool are one of the most chosen teams in the career mode of FIFA games and fans would obviously be eager to know how the ratings of the Liverpool players would differ from the ones in FIFA 16. There are players expected to get an upgrade on their ratings and it won’t be surprising if a few of them receive downgrades.
Here are the predictions with their old rating being mentioned first.
#1 Goalkeepers and defenders
Liverpool conceded 50 goals in the league last season and dropped precious points after being in winning positions in quite a number of matches. In spite of that, few players impressed and deserves an improvement in their ratings.
Loris Karius: 78 → 80
Karius is one of Liverpool’s summer signings and the Reds definitely needed to sign a goalkeeper. He is one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe and he had a solid 2015-16 season with Mainz in the Bundesliga. and his rating should improve.
Simon Mignolet: 78 → 77
Mignolet’s rating would probably go down because of the terrible season he had. The Belgian is highly inconsistent and commits a lot of errors. He did play well in some matches but he is not a reliable goalkeeper.
Alex Manninger: 72 → 70
Manninger is another player brought in by Jurgen Klopp during this transfer window and the 39-year-old Austrian keeper has lots of experience playing for clubs in the first divisions of Austria, England, Germany and Italy. However, age is against him and he would probably receive a downgrade.
Nathaniel Clyne: 81 → 82
Clyne is a wonderful professional and is reliable both in attack and defence. He had a solid season and the England international is one of the best right-backs in the division. Clyne deserves an upgrade without the shadow of a doubt.
Dejan Lovren: 79 → 80
Lovren is finally looking like the player that Liverpool hoped he would be when the Reds signed him from Southampton. His form has improved a lot under Jurgen Klopp’s reign. Scoring the winner against Borussia Dortmund in the Reds’ remarkable comeback in the Europa league was one of the highs in his season. He would certainly be one of the first names on the Liverpool team sheet in the coming season.
Joel Matip: 80 → 82
The signing of Matip on a free transfer was a good piece of business by the Reds. The Cameroon international was one of the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga last season and his performances for Schalke should definitely earn him an upgrade.
Mamadou Sakho: 81 → 82
Sakho is a really passionate footballer who simply loves wearing the Liverpool red. The Frenchman’s rating may get an upgrade even though he has been really shaky in some games. Sakho had some fabulous performances and his display against Dortmund in the Europa league was really good. If Sakho adds much-needed consistency to his game, he would certainly become one of the very best central defenders in Europe.
Ragnar Klavan: 77 → 78
Klavan is the most expensive Estonian footballer ever after his £4.2m move to Liverpool from Augsburg this summer. The 30-year-old, who is a centre-back, can also play the role of a left full back. He had a solid season with Augsburg in the Bundesliga and would probably get an upgrade.
Alberto Moreno: 79 → 78
Almost all Liverpool fans would want the Reds to sign a new left back in this transfer window. Alberto Moreno is good going forward but he is shambolic in defence as his performance in the Europa league final would suggest. He is more suited to be a left winger and not a left-back. His rating would probably go down.
Andre Wisdom: 71 → 71
The 23-year-old spent the previous season on loan at Norwich City who were relegated. Wisdom wasn’t particularly impressive during his loan spell and he doesn’t deserve an upgrade. There is also a chance that he will be sold before the transfer window closes.
Joe Gomez: 64 → 64
Gomez made an impressive start to his Liverpool career but he was forced out to the sidelines because of a knee injury. He is now struggling because of an Achilles problem and will miss the Red’s first few games in the premier league. His progress as a player is obviously stagnated by injuries and his rating might not change.
Tiago Illori: 74 → 74
Tiago Illori spent the earlier part of last campaign on loan at Aston Villa but he didn’t make even a single appearance for them. The 23-year-old’s career hasn’t made the growth that many thought it would. Illori’s rating would probably not change.
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2) Midfielders
Jurgen Klopp has made significant changes to the Liverpool midfield during this transfer window and it will be really interesting to see how the midfield would shape up against Arsenal. Here are the predicted ratings of the Liverpool midfielders.
Jordan Henderson: 79 → 79
Many people believe Henderson is not the man to captain Liverpool football club but to be fair to him, he is an underrated player. He had an injury hit 2015-16 season and could not play enough games as he would have wanted. His rating would possibly remain 79.
James Milner: 80 → 80
Milner had a fine season and he provided a number of assists last campaign. The 30-year-old’s work rate and versatility are extraordinary. However one would wonder has he done enough to earn an upgrade and his rating might not change from 80.
Georginio Wijnladum: 80 → 81
Wijnaldum moved to Liverpool from relegated Newcastle United for a fee of £23 million. He scored 11 goals for the Magpies last campaign and was the best player in their squad. His heroics for the Tyneside should earn him an upgrade.
Emre Can: 75 → 78
The German international was a key figure in the Liverpool midfield last season would certainly continue his progress to become an exceptional midfielder this campaign. His performances should earn him an improvement from the low rating of 75.
Lucas Leiva: 79 → 79
The Brazilian is the longest-serving player in the current Liverpool squad. He didn’t start a lot of games last season but played well whenever he got the opportunity. On the whole, he had an above average season and his rating would probably remain 79.
Marko Grujic: → 75
Marko Grujic was not in the Fifa 16 database and it will be interesting to see what his rating in FIFA 17 would be. Liverpool signed Grujic from Red Star Belgrade in January and Loaned him back to the same club until the end of the season. The Serbian has impressed highly during Liverpool’s pre-season and scored a sublime goal against Barcelona at Wembley.
Kevin Stewart: 52 → 60
Kevin Stewart is currently on a very low rating of 52 and that would improve most certainly. Stewart learned his trade from the Tottenham Hotspur academy. The 22-year-old might be sent out on loan to get regular playtime.
Philippe Coutinho: 84 → 85
The Brazilian is arguably Liverpool’s best player and he scored some sublime goals last season. He will certainly be Liverpool’s highest rated player in FIFA 17 and his rating should probably improve from 84 to 85.
Roberto Firmino: 82 → 83
Firmino had a poor first half of the season but his form improved drastically after Klopp’s arrival. He was Liverpool’s top scorer in the league with 11 goals. His heroics in the second half of the season should possibly earn him an improvement on his current rating of 82.
Sadio Mane: 78 → 79
Mane became the most expensive African player in history after his £34m move from Southampton. He was Southampton’s top scorer last season after finding the back of the net 15 times including a brace against Liverpool.
Adam Lallana: 80 → 80
Lallana, like most of the Liverpool players, rediscovered his form in the second half of the season but he fails to convert his brilliant footwork into goals and assists. His rating would probably remain 80.
Lazar Markovic: 77 → 77
The Serbian international spent last season on loan at Fenerbahce but he was forced to return to Liverpool in February after suffering a hamstring injury. Markovic hasn't done enough during his time at Turkey to deserve an upgrade.
Sheyi Ojo: 62 → 66
The young winger is currently on a very low rating of 62 and his performances last season which was impressive should earn him an upgrade.
Luis Alberto → 75
Alberto’s Liverpool career never took off and he will probably leave the club this summer. He spent the previous two seasons on loan at clubs in the La Liga.
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3) Strikers
Liverpool have not signed a striker in this transfer window and, Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli, are expected to be sold. Even if those sales materialise, Liverpool have enough firepower up front but Daniel Sturridge's fitness will be a concern.
Daniel Sturridge: 83 → 83
Daniel Sturridge’s quality is unquestionable and he is one of the best strikers in the league when fully fit. Unfortunately, Sturridge is the synonym of the word injury and the 2015-16 season was another injury-hit campaign for the England international and his rating may not change from 83.
Christian Benteke: 82 → 82
The big Belgian failed to justify his price tag, but to be fair to him, he was not provided with enough opportunities to do so. He is another player who might leave the club in this transfer window as Liverpool do not play according to his strengths.
Divock Origi: 76 → 78
Origi scored some really important goals for the Reds last season and that would certainly earn him an upgrade from the present rating of 76. Liverpool fans would be hoping that Origi would continue where he left off last season.
Danny Ings: 75 → 75
Danny Ings’s had a good start to his Liverpool career after he scored against Norwich and Everton but his season was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Ings has now left his injury nightmares behind him and would hope to be a big part of Klopp’s plans for the coming season.
Mario Balotelli 80 → 80
Balotelli's loan spell at AC Milan last season didn’t go really well as he struggled with injuries and could only manage one goal in 20 appearances. His Liverpool future is followed by a big question mark and he would be sold in this window if Liverpool receive good offers.
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