Liverpool FC have had a rough summer preseason- that’s not news. It’s not a hot take either, as Reds manager Jurgen Klopp would freely admit that his side struggled during many of the exhibitions, and that their preseason was highly unorthodox, and not in a good way.
Of course, do you when the time is for worrying about preseason friendly results? Never, that’s when. Besides, LFC looked much better in the season curtain raiser, playing reigning champions Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in the Community Shield on Sunday, before eventually bowing out on penalty kicks.
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Heading into the season opener on Friday night, at home against Norwich City, how does the Merseyside club stack up against everybody else?
There is no reason not to believe we won’t have another two horse league title race this season, with the two northwest England sides from last term once again the two contenders.
Season opener LFC starting XI prediction, team news– go to this link
Liverpool FC New Arrivals of Note:
It was a rather dull transfer window at Liverpool, as the Merseyside club only built for the future- signing a pair of teenagers. They picked up PEC Zwolle central defender Sepp van den Berg on the very cheap and Fulham whiz kid Harvey Elliot, the latter of which is expected to be in the first team mix.
The record-breaking midfielder is certainly the real deal, as he was wanted by all the heavyweights. They also added back up goalkeeper Adrian on a free transfer to the squad.
Liverpool FC Departures of significance:
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Defender Alberto Moreno (Villareal), Striker Daniel Sturridge (still remains unsigned)
While all three players are accomplished in their own right, and displayed solid form over the course of their careers at times…Liverpool will cope with their losses just fine.
Liverpool FC Team needs addressed and not addressed:
Klopp has spent a lot of this summer tempering the expectations and wishes of those who wanted the Anfield outfit to spend big again this summer.
To further mollify these people, the German referred to Rhian Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as de facto new signings of sort.
On one hand, he has a point, given both players missed most of last season due to injury, but are now fit to possibly see major minutes this term.
So he’s right, but on the other hand, he’s doing some A+ “spin” there in explaining away why his club wasn’t more active this summer.
Summer transfer window grade: C-
Liverpool FC Synopsis and Overall Assessment:
Maybe the reason Klopp’s club didn’t spend more money this silly season is that they just didn’t have to. Sure, we have a few hours left before the deadline closes, but there doesn’t seem to by any chatter at all out there about Liverpool making any last minute major moves.
Maybe that’s for the best because the blockbuster 2018 summer transfer window set them up nicely for success; for years to come. Unless some kind of fluky catastrophic injury crisis strikes.
Summer Transfer Window Analysis/Season Previews
Arsenal Tottenham City United Liverpool Chelsea
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.