Liverpool 2016/17 - Season Preview and Predictions
Going from “we’re going to win the league” after beating Barcelona 4-0, to the outlook being doom and gloom within just 24 hours after losing to Mainz by the same scoreline is precisely why I try not to read too much into pre-season friendlies. They are essentially just for fitness, integrating new players and coaches trying out things from the training pitch in a match situation. Some things can be taken from pre-season, good and bad, but the opening Premier …
Liverpool Cleverly Embracing Sell-On Clauses
Buy-back clauses. Percentage of future sales. Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo commented about how Liverpool are now adopting a more continental approach when selling players. Copying the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid by adding clauses into sales. English clubs are slow on the uptake, It's one of the many things European clubs do that makes perfect business sense.
FSG are first and foremost businessmen so it was only a matter of time before they embraced this approach when …
Why Markovic Could be Klopp's Wildcard
When Lazar Markovic signed for Liverpool in the Summer of 2014 it was seen as a coup. This was one of Europe's most exciting footballers who was coming off the back of a really impressive season with Portuguese giants Benfica. He joined the Reds despite reported interest from Chelsea and Juventus. The Primeira Liga is a bit of a litmus test for players. More often than not players who do well in Portugal go on to impress in Europe.
His …
Lazar Markovic: Stick or Twist?
Lazar Markovic arrived at Liverpool couple of years ago under a lot of hype and an equally high fee, which was a bone of contention amongst most fans. A 20 million pound fee for a youngster with limited top-league experience was a gamble by itself. Talking about gambling fancy signing up with the best online casinos? Check out www.toponlinecasinos.co.uk.
The hype was not unjustified though. His talent was recognised in the annual IBWM 100 list in 2013 and 2014. He was …
Ousmane Dembele - Ideal for Liverpool?
Liverpool's past endeavours when signing players with 'potential' seems to have put many fans off going down that route again. If you mention a young player to the fans that isn't already in the academy you're likely to be met with a response along the lines of "why not buy *insert a name of an already established player* instead of paying for potential?". They seem to forget the Reds made their name turning players into stars.
The signing of Philippe …
Liverpool Don't Need A Big Change; Liverpool Need a Refresh
It's been the debate that has raged on since for some time under FSG ownership, is this Liverpool squad good enough to compete with the best the world has to offer?
Quite frankly not according to the likes of Souness, who has labelled Klopp's current crop as average with fans agreeing that there needs to be a clear out in the summer. But Klopp sees things in a different way, stating that quick fixes will not solve much and that he …
Liverpool FC: To Buy Or Not To Buy?
The January transfer window is open, Liverpool have thirteen first team players currently out injured, it's time for FSG to splash the cash and show Jürgen Klopp that they mean business at Liverpool. Back him the way they backed Brendan Rodgers. After all Liverpool are still currently in contention for the prized fourth Champions League spot, still in all the domestic cups and more importantly for me (and I never thought I'd say this) still in the Europa League. I …
Liverpool's Biggest Hurdle in 2016 is Impatience
It’s easy to look at the United fans with their radically pre-emptive Mourinho scarves, and their Sharpie covered kitchen-towl signs, and to forget that Liverpool fans can be pretty stupid too. Jurgen Klopp alluded to one element of the idiocy, or at least childish impatience, in Reds fans, when he said of Liverpool’s inconsistent performances that “of course, there are explanations for this, but nobody wants to hear these explanations”. There are swathes of football followers who you can rely …
Liverpool's Strongest Team
We all know what Liverpool's strongest team is, well we all like to think we know what Liverpool's strongest team is anyways. If you go through the full squad, including those who are out on loan and those who are currently injured Liverpool have the potential to have one of the strongest starting elevens currently in the Premier League. They now also have back up in positions they never had before, mainly in the left back and the right back …
Merry Klopp-mas and a Quiet New Year?
The countdown is on and the big day is nearly upon us. Excited boys and girls are writing their lists, checking them twice (at least!) and hoping that when the time comes, they’ll be screeching with excitement over the presents that they have been dreaming about for months, delivered by the jolly red man on his trusted vehicle of dreams.
I am, of course, talking about the opening of the January transfer window and Ian Ayres moped exploits en route to closing …