In the 2013-14 run that was at times magical but eventually futile, a joke was that Brendan Rodgers had the easiest job. He didn’t have to make any first XI choices, no tactical nuances. Every week, he’d set the team up the same and tell them to play the same. Suarez and Sturridge up top, go high press. Don’t worry about defending, just go score more than whoever lines up opposite.
What was he to do? Iago Aspas in for Suarez or Sturridge? Victor Moses in for Philippe Coutinho or Raheem Sterling (once upon a time when we all loved him)? Brad Jones for Simon Mignolet? He didn’t have any choices. He could barely fill the bench with half competent players, let alone having competition for places in the first team.
Last year Rodgers had some depth that, on paper, appeared to be well and good but it wasn’t. Suarez was never replaced. Cheers for that Mario Balotelli.
Daniel Sturridge was always hurt. Coutinho couldn’t carry the squad on his own, though he made a damn valiant effort.
Rickie Lambert wasn’t the rotation striker Rodgers needed, Javi Manquillo just didn’t work out and Glen Johnson had a constant presence on the team. He had too many players who preferred the #10 role, but you can only have one #10 and Coutinho is ours.
Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana struggled to adapt to foreign positions, leading to inconsistent performances bereft of confidence.
Raheem Sterling decided he was the second coming of Pele because he scored a nice goal against Norwich City one time and thrust himself above the team. As soon as his contract dirty laundry was aired by agent Aidy Ward, his performances took a sharp decline.
This year, Rodgers has some depth that, on paper, appears to be well and good. Wait. This sounds familiar.
It doesn’t have to be familiar, it doesn’t have to be last year.
Sterling didn’t have the influence on the side that Suarez did, so no matter who comes in with his money, they won’t have to be replacing one of the best single seasons the Premier League has ever seen, like Suarez. The hoard of signings from last summer have had a year to adjust. Jordon Ibe has grown a year. Liverpool signed a real life right back in Nate Clyne. Liverpool will also, likely, sign a real life first team striker (hopefully a certain big Belgian forward based in the Midlands won’t break any weights at Melwood like Mamadou Sakho once did).
Position by position, Liverpool appear to be well stocked.
Between the pipes, Mignolet is the undeniable #1. So long that he puts his horror show from October-December behind him from last season, of course, and he seemed to do so. Adam Bogdan is head and shoulders better than Brad Jones, but isn’t near Mignolet. I won’t fear that any shot on target will go in with Bodgan in goal, unlike the aforementioned Jones.
R.I.P. Glen Johnson’s Liverpool Career (2009-15). We gather here not to lament, but to celebrate. We celebrate that the times have ended. We look forward to seeing Nathaniel Clyne’s name on the team sheet. If he (unlikely) shows signs of Glen Johnson 2.0, there’s options. Andre Wisdom is around after being on loan the previous pair of seasons, Scouse hero Jon Flanagan might stop hanging around Sturridge and kick the contagious injury bug as well as new boy Joe Gomez is competent at fullback, and Rodgers has confirmed he won’t be sent on loan.
At the heart of defence resides Mamadou Sakho. In my opinion, he’s one of the top centre-halves in the Premier League. I think he’s underrated. Sometimes he doesn’t pass the eye test based on looking a bit clunky and out of sorts, but he’s a great defender and adept at handling the ball. Behind Mama is where it gets a bit dicey. I love Martin Skrtel, but I’m not sure he can always be relied on. I hope, and honestly think, Dejan Lovren will remember how to play football this year. A little veteran presence in Kolo Toure as well as youth in Joe Gomez and Andre Wisdom biting at their heels could cause them to kick on. For those who’ve forgotten, a player by the name of Tiago Ilori exists and will attempt to stake his claim in the team. It’s interesting to see how this logjam will work itself out.
Opposite of Nathaniel Clyne should locate Alberto Moreno, marauding up and down the left flank. His first season was rocky as he showed positional deficiency as well as lapses of concentration a little too often, but back home to his familiar left-back instead of wing-back and a sophomore season in the Prem shall do him wonders. A name that keeps popping up, Joe Gomez, can play here too, if pre-season has been a good litmus test. Jose Enrique still plays football for Liverpool at the moment if that’s not enough.
The midfield is loaded with good players that are fluid in multiple positions.
Down the middle, skipper Jordan Henderson and James Milner look to be paired together all the time so long that they’re both fit. Joe Allen will get a game whenever he can, though he’s just a lesser version of both Henderson and Milner.
If Rodgers opts for three in the middle, Lucas or Emre Can can play behind them or any one of Coutinho, Lallana or Roberto Firmino could be in front of them. Jordan Rossiter may work his way into the first team at defensive mid here and there.
In attacking midfield/wing roles is where Liverpool have endless options. Coutinho will be in the team every week and one would imagine Firmino will be too. Lallana deserves to be in the team every week, but there just might not be room for the Englishman. Ibe gives legitimate pace and width, Markovic will be happy that the wing-back role has been eliminated. Sheyi Ojo, Harry Wilson or Bobby Adekanye may well work their way onto the bench towards the end of the season.
Behind Liverpool’s potential new #9, they’ll have competent rotation forwards who can move their legs at a more accelerated rate than Rickie Lambert. Divock Origi is 20-years-old. He was bossing the World Cup at 19-years-old, pushing Romelu Lukaku to the bench. He was always going to have inconsistencies this year. I absolutely rate the kid. I think he’ll be very good. I think he’s good now, too. Both he and Danny Ings can be split out wide, added flexibility will allow more games and time to grow for the young forwards. I expect to see a heavy dose of Ings, Origi, Ibe and Markovic in the Europa League.
Somewhere in Boston, Daniel Sturridge is rehabbing. Sturridge will be back this season, hopefully for good. When he’s fit, he’s in the XI, no question.
Brendan Rodgers has a tough job selecting players again. At every position there are multiple competent players at his disposal. He’ll have the tough task of giving his players necessary games whilst winning. He’ll have to be finding games to rotate the squad but still get three points, keeping the players, fans and owners happy.
It’s make or break for Rodgers this season. I think he’ll come good but it remains to be seen. He can’t complain about backing from FSG nor complaining there aren’t enough quality players to call on. Liverpool’s roster is fully stocked rolling into August.
On paper, it appears to be well and good.
