Liverpool Football Club: 2013/14 preview

The Kop
Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers

What Liverpool has done to improve:

Brendan Rodgers took a laudable stand on the speculations arising if Luis Suarez is to stay at or depart from Liverpool. His affluence to repeatedly state the club is always greater than the player and that they player has to honour the loyalty at the club earned him much adulation from the fans.

In the transfer window, Liverpool management was quick in signing Kolo Toure as the experienced candidate to replace Jamie Carragher in the lineup. Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto were also brought in from the shores of Spain to add flair to the “tiki-taka” formation that the Liverpool manager has instilled at the club.

A purchase that did raise doubts at first, Simon Mignolet was signed as Pepe Reina’s sought after replacement – In spite of that, the Belgian shot-stopper has settled into the squad with good showings in pre-season, where he looked composed in handling set pieces and one on one duels.

Key players for Liverpool:

Liverpool’s stellar performer in 2013-14 was Luis Suarez as he managed to stay in the limelight both for his performances and antics. With that being said, the Uruguayan will be the go to man backed up by Iago Aspas and Daniel Sturridge in the forward roles.

Daniel Agger will be the soldering force at the back four, having just been appointed as the club vice captain. A favourite amongst the Kop, the centre back will be easing into a more attacking defender role as the team has a settled Kolo Toure to guard the fortress in defence.

Steven Gerrard signed a contract extension in the summer that will keep him at the club beyond his 35th birthday. Last season, the skipper showed glimpses of his eulogized talent after enduring an injury ridden 2012-13 campaign.

This year, he will want to play a key role in attack by holding onto the ball and setting up plays as the holding midfielder or a make shift winger in the 4-3-3 or 4-1-2-3 formation. To partner him, will be another one of Liverpool’s key players: Lucas Leiva, whose chance to earn a call up for Brazil 2014 will motivate him to perform at his best.

Arguably, the most important player in the Liverpool squad is another Brazilian named Philippe Coutinho. In the preseason games, Coutinho was instrumental in the seven victories with numerous flashes of brilliance and trickery with his crafty feet. He will also be the club’s replacement for Gerrard at the CAM role, should he be employed there by Brendan Rodgers.

Ideal formation:

With the current set of players, Liverpool’s line up in the 4-3-3 will look like:

Mignolet

Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique

Allen/Henderson, Lucas,Gerrard

Coutinho, Aspas, Sturridge

If Brendan Rodgers reverts back to a 4-1-2-3, then:

Mignolet

Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique

Lucas/Allen

Gerrard, Coutinho

Aspas, Sturridge, Henderson

Where they would like to finish:

Liverpool’s ambition for the upcoming years is to be in the reckoning of Europe’s elite clubs by plying its trade in the Champions League. Finishing fourth or above in the EPL table might seem far-fetched at the moment, but that is where Liverpool would like to finish in 2013-14.

This summer Rogers strengthened the squad in domains all over the pitch. The team would be less fancied to go behind ceaselessly in games against easier oppositions. However, it remains to be seen if this current group of players are good enough to salvage the elusive top four spot for Liverpool.

Liverpool’s closest rivals to the top four spot in 2013-14 will be Arsenal and Tottenham. While the former has been faintly active in the transfer window, the Spurs have gone all guns blazing in successfully attracting lucrative talents from Europe to North London.

If Liverpool can start off 2013-14 by remaining within the top six places by the end of December, it is remotely possible for the Reds to usurp the fourth spot in EPL table from both Arsenal and Tottenham. The club has to begin its season by snagging maximum points, and especially for that to happen, Anfield will have to remain a fortress.

In the Cup competitions, Liverpool fans will want Rodgers to make deep runs in both domestic tournaments given the club is not involved in 2013-14. The squad is young but adequately experienced in the domestic front to be betted on to make an appearance at Wembley in either the FA Cup or the League Cup.

Where Liverpool will actually finish:

Realism is more called for at Anfield than optimism. That is how Liverpool fans should take to the upcoming season.

Finishing above Arsenal managed by an astute and experienced Frenchman might be harder this season and with Tottenham likely to cling onto Gareth Bale, Liverpool will have to prioritize their interests to fight for the fifth spot.

In the Cup competitions, Liverpool will want to capitalize on its youth experience by at least reaching the Finals of either one of them. It would not be a surprise if they can repeat the wonders the team achieved in 2011-12 by reaching both finals, and winning at least one of them.

For 2013-14, I would reckon with Liverpool finishing at 5th in the Premiership table, getting knocked off in the quarters of the League Cup while winning the FA Cup against Manchester United at Wembley.

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