The new season is on its way and everyone at Read Liverpool is experiencing earth-shattering excitement. And to start the new season as we mean to go on, we have a few words straight from the Theorists’ fingertips, explaining their thoughts and ideas for the season ahead. And what a season that will prove to be. Enjoy.
Luke Chandley
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: James Milner
Top Scorer: Daniel Sturridge
Last season was a shambles, and coupled with our rocky-looking first chunk of fixtures things could get very sticky, very early. Saying that, I think we will do much better than expected and I do think the strength of our squad is underestimated.
Milner and Henderson, mixed with Clyne at right-back will create a much more effective defensive unit than seasons passed, and Benteke offers something that no defender likes – a battle of the body and mind.
I am a bit worried we lack a certain amount of unpredictability, yet all that could change if Lallana hits form and Firmino settles in quickly. More Ibe and more of the same from Coutinho could see us surprise even ourselves. Just like the halcyon days of 2013-14. Viva la Redmen.
Joe Knappett
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Christian Benteke
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
I think with the squad we have now, us getting that fourth spot and getting back into the Champions League is something that could very well happen this season. The quality of players that we have brought in this window and the development of players like Ibe and Can, I think could be enough to take us back to fourth.
Milner and Henderson will offer us such a solid midfield pairing, Clyne brings much-needed stability to the right-back position, and Benteke could be a beast for us. His 42 goals in 89 Prem appearances shows he is a quality, Prem-proven striker, and his goal against Swindon outlined that quality. With Coutinho and Firmino creating a plethora of chances for him as well, he’ll be banging in a lot of goals for us this season. A lot to be optimistic about then.
Ewan Buckeridge
League Position: 5th
Player of the Season: Simon Mignolet
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
Well, strap in for 100+ words of hope behind tear-filled eyes.
Things can’t really get much worse than the season just gone, but they can’t get much better.
The squad has improved massively. The capture of James Milner appears to be one of the steals of the summer and with every player looking hungry, the dreams are as big as ever.
However, one problem lies here. Have the Reds invested as well as other clubs? Manchester United have brought in talent in abundance and seem a force.
Arsenal have seemed unstoppable in pre-season, plus City and Chelsea still boast the two best teams in the division.
A very short fall seems to be on the cards this season, as long as everybody at every club performs as expected.
But with this league, you just never quite know…
Sam Davies
League Position: 5th
Player of the Season: James Milner
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
Last season was as bad as they come for a Liverpool fan and Gerrard announcing that he was leaving didn’t help either. I do think we will improve but I think we have too much ground to make up on last season’s top four teams to secure Champions League football.
The additions of Clyne and Milner will help the team defensively but still I think we’re weak at the back and that will cost us Champions League football.
Sturridge missing the first two months or so of the season will allow Benteke to make the forward role his own and hopefully grab some much needed goals and Ings will also make a worthy contribution.
Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino will give us depth going forward, although finishing outside the top four and failing to win a trophy could well cost Rodgers his job especially after such a poor previous campaign.
Ian Hugo
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Philippe Coutinho
Top Scorer: Daniel Sturridge
After a disappointing 2014-15 campaign, I believe the Reds will finish in a much better position this season and qualify for the Champions League.
The signings brought in are, while nowhere close to Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in terms of recognisability, big name signings nonetheless. Firmino and Benteke will be eager to prove themselves at a big club (no offence Hoffenheim or Villa) and will hit the ground running.
James Milner will fit snugly in the centre of the park alongside Henderson. Clyne, Gomez, and Ings will be eager to show Brendan that he made the right decision signing the young Englishmen.
As for returning players, and especially last summer’s signings, they will want to show the league that last year was a fluke and the top four is where Liverpool belong. Expect a Reds squad hungry for three points week in and week out who will walk off the pitch victorious more often than not.
Chris Flavell
League Position: 3rd (and Europa League Champions)
Player of the Season: Joe Gomez
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
I honestly can’t wait for this season to begin, finally Brendan looks to have pulled his finger out and made some top signings. The additions of Benteke and Firmino excite, and solidity should be brought about by the likes of young Joe Gomez and Nathaniel Clyne.
If we can keep Sturridge and last season’s star Coutinho fit I think we can challenge in a few areas given the depth in the squad. I can’t wait to see our new side link up competitively for the first time next week at the dreaded Stoke away!
Neil Varnish
League Position: 3rd
Player of the Season: Roberto Firmino
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
This summer, quality players came in who are ready for first team action now, rather than in a couple years like some signings from last summer. Rodgers has strengthened his coaching staff, so there is something to look forward to.
The beginning of the season may be daunting, I think Liverpool will shock many people and win a fair amount of the matches they lost last season, so I’m saying third place over City (fourth) and Man United (fifth).
I think Firmino will have a tremendous season once he adapts to the PL. Benteke will be surrounded by tricky players who can feed him the ball in scoring positions. It’s just down to whether he can finish. I think he will be the leading scorer at the club this season.
Rob Hayman
League Position: 5th
Player of the Season: Jordan Henderson
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
Brendan Rodgers must have been terrified when he first read the 2015-16 fixture list. A trip to face a Stoke side that beat us so badly that he faced mass calls for his dismissal was never the ideal scenario, but a victory on opening weekend could set the tone for recovery after the misery of last season.
Our transfer business, despite possibly lacking the stellar names that the Twitterati were clamouring for, seems like some of the best in the league, with key players replaced and crucial positions strengthened.
Capturing Nathaniel Clyne to replace Glen Johnson is a significant signing and James Milner, despite me criticising him heavily throughout his career, has really impressed me on the pre-season tour and offers an experienced head alongside Henderson and Can. I also quietly hope that Benteke be our next star number 9.
Nathan Steenson
League Position: 5th
Player of the Season: Jordan Henderson
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
Rarely do seasons go as badly as Liverpool’s 2014-15. Rarely do you lose the two best strikers in the league simultaneously, have a whole raft of new signings flop and many other distracting and disruptive factors all happen at the same time.
Next year will be better. Liverpool will be good. Unfortunately not Chelsea/City/Arsenal/United good. But ‘best-of-the-rest’ sort of good. We will be in and around fifth all season, not quite being able to bridge the gap to the ‘big four’, and defence will be a major issue and talking point again.
But all this comes with another year of experience for Brendan Rodgers, the new management structure, good signings and an expected up-turn in form of some of last years flops, and so I see a definite improvement on last years performances, if not results.
Thomas Bogert
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Philippe Coutinho
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
Wasn’t exactly making any bold statements or any #HOTTAKES in terms of player of the year nor top scorer, but I can’t see any way past our #9 and #10 in these regards. Daniel Sturridge should be a real shout for top scorer but you just can’t trust the man to consistently be on the pitch at this stage. Meanwhile, Coutinho lifted himself into another stratosphere post November last season and I reckon his trajectory is still trending north.
As for league position, I’m cautiously optimistic. Chelsea and Arsenal are mortal locks for top four, but I’m not convinced by either Manchester club. Liverpool’s first six away fixtures will be a huge tell as to where they’ll end up. Up the Reds.
Oli Marecar
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Jordan Henderson
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
My prediction of a fourth-place finish is optimistic and there is an enormous amount of pressure on Brendan Rodgers to achieve top four this season. The owners have backed him and he will have to come up with the goods. Hopefully our new look front link will fire us back towards the top but the defence is still a big worry. Surely the manager can’t persist with Lovren for much longer?
I’m looking forward to seeing more of our youngsters flourishing – especially Ibe after Sterling’s departure. Come on Reds!
Ross Williams
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Jordan Henderson
Top Scorer: Christian Benteke
As ever, I’m a cautious optimist when it comes to Liverpool’s chances this season. Although none of us truly know what we will look like when we hit the field on Sunday afternoon, we look much stronger on paper, following a solid window.
Milner could become our most important player in the middle of the park, Benteke is stacked with ability and (if used correctly) could run riot against any back four and Roberto Firmino is the perfect counterweight for our little Phil. I mean, what’s better than having one Brazilian attacker in the line-up? Having two!
Beating the big sides isn’t the issue this year, it’s making sure we don’t drop points to the lesser clubs. Fourth is on, trust me.
James Smith
League Position: 4th
Player of the Season: Jordon Ibe
Top Scorer: Daniel Sturridge
There’s real optimism this year. I’m gonna dive straight in; I feel that both Manchester squads have the potential to really struggle and for once, I am extremely happy with our business in the market.
I think Benteke, and of course Sturridge when he returns, will thrive on the service provided by quality players such as Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana and Ibe in behind, and we will rediscover our goal scoring touch.
For me, there are big seasons ahead for Jordon Ibe and Mamadou Sakho; they could really surprise a few. Clyne and James Milner are impressive acquisitions, and I look forward to seeing an extremely hardworking midfield in the league this year, with Henderson and Can contributing too. To have a squad is important too, and players such as Markovic, Origi and Ings will have parts to play.
I agree with Luke in the sense that we seem to be underestimated and should Firmino, Benteke and co. settle in quickly, we could once again be up there. Our downfall is often at the back and that needs to be rectified this year if we are to compete, and avoiding dropped points against lower league opposition is vital in our quest for a Champions League spot.
But there is enough quality and hardworking individuals in our squad this year to really give our rivals a run for their money. Who knows!
