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#2 Liverpool: Creative Midfield
Liverpool had an excellent season in 2017/18, finishing 4th in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final. Jurgen Klopp’s men weren’t perfect though; despite scoring freely they had defensive issues. The last two transfer windows appear to have solved those woes though – the signings of Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk have provided them with a defensive toughness missing before.
For their current title charge then, what’s the missing ingredient? I’d argue it’s some creativity in the centre of midfield, something that’s been missing for the Reds since the sale of Philippe Coutinho. The midfield combinations Klopp has used thus far in 2018/19 have been somewhat effective, but any combination of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Naby Keita seems to lack the classic ability to unlock a defence.
With one of the most dangerous forward lines in Europe in Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, finding a player to pick key passes to them would make Liverpool absolutely deadly. Liverpool attempted to sign one in the form of Nabil Fekir in the summer, but the move fell through for a myriad of reasons.
Klopp could definitely go back in for the Lyon man, as he’s started the season relatively well, chipping in with 4 goals and 4 assists in all competitions. Another option could be a man who Liverpool once let go for just £1m; Suso, a product of the Reds’ academy, is playing excellently for AC Milan right now and the Spaniard has 4 goals and 8 assists to his name in just 15 league games. He’d cost more than he was sold for – but he could well prove to be worth it.
