Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is targeting his first trophy with the club this season, having been impressed by the club’s summer signings.
A 4-0 loss to Mainz on Sunday just 24 hours after beating La Liga Champions Barcelona by the same scoreline epitomised a topsy-turvy pre-season for the team, but spirits are nevertheless high heading into Jurgen Klopp’s first full season at the helm.
Whilst the Premier League title may prove to be out of reach, with the battle for glory expected to be an all-Manchester affair, the Reds stormed to 2nd last time they were without European competition in 2013/14 and could once again enjoy the benefits this season.
Liverpool have failed to win a trophy since their 2012 League Cup triumph, but Can, set to figure heavily at the heart of the midfield over the course of the campaign, believes Klopp has now assembled a squad capable of ending their drought.
“I am very excited [for the new season],” the German international told liverpoolfc.com. “Everyone is a good player, everyone we have bought is good and they have showed that in pre-season, and we did as well against Barcelona.
“If you play for a club like Liverpool, it’s such a big club, then it’s always a target to win silverware and that has to be our target this year.”
Can, preparing for his third season at Anfield following his £9.75 million switch from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, was one of the club’s most consistent performers last term and is expected to start Sunday’s season-opener against Arsenal at the Emirates, even if he admits he has not yet reached the peak of his fitness.
“To be honest I’m not 100 per cent and I have to work hard to get there,” he conceded.
“I have been working hard to get there for next week, then we will see how far along I am.”
Qualifying for the Champions League will likely be the team’s main target, but they face competition from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and even West Ham for a coveted top four spot.
Nevertheless, their alleged title-winning credentials will very much be put to the test in a gruelling start to the season which includes trips to White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge along with a clash against defending champions Leicester.
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