Two weeks half way around the world, and Liverpool have returned home with three wins and a draw from Asia and Australia. Two weeks before the new campaign begins, and matches come fast, frenzied, and all count. All the new signings have yet to play together and there is ample question about how many of the problems exposed in last season remain.
Here are four finding from the tour and pre-season so far.
Integrate New Players
Given the various summer cup competitions in South America and Europe, a handful of players likely to fill key roles in the new look Liverpool missed the tour and have been unavailable for pre-season with the team until now.
For someone like Roberto Firmino, that can potentially be more acutely felt than for the likes of Emre Can or Philippe Coutinho.
Add recent big signing Christian Benteke and there are still a number of players that have yet to really play in the side and get familiar with the team and one another.
Firmino and Benteke in particular carry a heavier burden. Aside from the weight of the transfer money, strong starts by both will take a lot of pressure off the youth of squad. Should either or both get on the front foot scoring-wise they will earn greater patience for their team mates from supporters.
It is essential, because there are a fair number of players who will require patience, which is in greater demand and even shorter supply than talent.
On the positive side, James Milner already looks like he could be the most important of all the signings. Figuring out how best to use the combination of Milner and Jordan Henderson could be the key factor in addressing the necessities for Liverpool’s season’s success.
Plus, Nathaniel Clyne is a definitive upgrade and, barring injury, is clear to be the anchor full-back in the squad.
Additions Danny Ings and Divock Origi are likely to make solid second striker options, but will no doubt require patience. Both are young, full of potential attacking threats but yet to prove how the move to a big club suits them.
Designate First Defence
While Liverpool began to strengthen their defense last year, shipping considerably less goals than they did the prior season, there were still obvious weaknesses.
At this point, it has to be obvious, even to manager Brendan Rodgers, that Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho have to be the first-choice centre-half pairing. Their ability to stay healthy and sharp will be paramount. They may even need to be relied upon for more starts than anyone in the squad.
This means that others with aspirations of securing minutes in the central defense will have to accept reduced opportunities or find ways to contribute in other places.
On the full-back front, things already look upgraded. As mentioned Clyne will be unquestionably top of the list at right-back and provide solidity and support in attack.
The competition will be for back-up positions on the right, in terms of depth. On the left side, the competitive emergence of Joe Gomez and second season growth of Alberto Moreno may provide a good problem for the gaffer.
Add to that the potential growth and progress of other squad players should provide some needed depth required for the league straining Thursday Europa League fixtures.
This will be a key year for Jon Flanagan to lock down his squad place, while role players need to be ready and available when called upon.
Sort Midfield Rotations
Potentially Liverpool’s greatest source of strength and strategy will be in midfield. Perhaps even more than last year, the hopes of a more fluid and interchanging midfield setup will come to fruition.
Milner and Henderson provide a massive engine room with flexibility in how they are deployed. The Brazilian contingent of Coutinho, Firmino, and Lucas also provide and array of options and possible continuity that has not always been present of late.
Add to that the minutes that young Emre Can and Jordan Ibe, as well as Adam Lallana and Joe Allen, will no doubt tally, and the outlook is encouraging.
Should players that have been on the fringe rise up and make a case for themselves the squad will only benefit. Matches and opportunities will be present. So it will be up to them and their performances, even more than how they might be used, to determine if they have futures with the club.
Ultimately, the personnel available provides Rodgers with more varied options then ever before. Barring some calamitous injury situation, there should be no need for late night epiphanies involving three at the back. It should be more of a question of whether there will be on, two, or three up front, and exactly how they will all fit together.
This squad already looks more capable of successfully playing with a single striker and advanced midfielders than last year’s ever did.
Previous Purchases Progress
This season will be a make or break term for many of the purchases brought in last season with a view toward the future. Apart from Emre Can, none of last summer’s group have suggested they are here for the long term.
However, having a full year in a new country and new league can make a monumental difference for some players, just as growing used to the weight of the shirt can make a difference for others.
Lazar Markovic must force his way into the mix this season to remove the yoke of flop from association. Similarly, Lallana must justify the manager’s faith and price tag to rise above luxury player status.
Moreno has an opportunity to cement a place as left-back should he seize it and fend off competition. Arguably, Dejan Lovren must overcome the most, recovering from one of the worst season’s of recent memory.
The young German, Can, may now be granted the best of all opportunities of competing and playing in a position he is most suited, as well as benefitting from some managed minutes befitting his age and experience. Yet, he still has much to prove to overcome the “one-for-the-future” label, as much as some others. While he did impress the most last season, he will face serious competition for minutes in the midfield.
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