No matter what side of the fence you may be on this one, Liverpool’s transfer policy for the forthcoming season has been nothing but widely debated topic on social media.
From morning until night, Reds’ fans have been bickering back and forth regarding who Liverpool should, and shouldn’t bring in, and the sheer lack of transfer activity has created an online tornado with some gargantuan and over-dramatic opinions being fired around on the views of Jurgen Klopp and his transfer stance.
It’s safe to say that panic has set in with a few, and maybe those voices may have some valid views when it comes to overcoming Manchester City to win the Premier League. But there is also plenty of good reason as to why Liverpool fans should place their faith in the owners and the management at the club, particularly with Jurgen Klopp.
With Manchester City signing Rodri, and Arsenal signing Nicholas Pepe, there is an element of concern that has been triggered among the Liverpool contingent, with the anxiety of falling behind an already unformidable Manchester City side that won the league with a points tally of 98 points last season, and 100 points the season before.
It would be wrong to criticise the ambition of those fans unhappy of falling behind our nearest rivals in the standings, as of course they have the best feelings at heart for the football club. The emptiness that is left as a result is deafening, and those disgruntled ones are keen to make themselves known amongst the mist.
With the transfer window set to close at 5pm on Thursday 8th August, it doesn’t give Liverpool much time to complete any business that is on the table. With Klopp’s only signings this summer being Harvey Elliott and Sepp Van Den Berg, the German’s focus on improving the team may already be at Melwood, much to the frustration of a certain pocket of Liverpool supporters.
As fans of a big club, those supporters have a right to their opinion on this one, but it’s certainly doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world or that Liverpool are guaranteed to win no trophies next season, here’s why.
A class act
Those fans are forgetting how formidable and brilliant Liverpool were last season, 97 points in the Premier League is a phenomenal amount to accumulate and somehow lose out to a ruthless Manchester City side, with Liverpool’s only defeat being against them at the Etihad. This achievement looks even more amazing considering the defensive injuries that the Reds’ had around the Christmas period. Joe Gomez suffered a horrendous injury against Burnley, and Joel Matip suffered a few knocks which set him back for a few weeks, but whoever came in did a sterling job alongside the colossal that is Virgil Van Dijk.
Klopp also had the ability to chop and change his midfield and to keep winning football matches as a result. Adam Lallana has been a marmite of a footballer for a few seasons due to his lack of fitness and his high wage packet at the club but came in and produced an eye-catching performance against Burnley during the back end of the season.
Fabinho and Keita did not get an immediate pass go card into Liverpool’s starting eleven and had to be patient, but when they came in, both were very effective with their own specialised areas of the game. We all saw what Fabinho can do in a Red shirt and was one of Liverpool’s outstanding performers during the course of last season. Whereas we all know that there’s more to come from Naby Keita, any hard-hitting form from the Guinean playmaker will feel like a new signing to Liverpool fans and something that they’ve been craving since his arrival was first announced last summer.
Seasons are very long and it’s very easy to get carried away and jump to conclusions early on while making sweeping assessments over situations we have very little control over. Liverpool have the players already at the club to compete at the very top of the table next season, the challenge will be that the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have strengthened significantly.
But the focus has to be on the players already in the house, and on the tactical ability of Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool still have an immensely strong squad despite a hairy pre-season, and will be challenging near the top of the table once more.
