Sadio Mane

Why Liverpool’s Current Squad Is Not Enough To Challenge On All Fronts

Over the season 2016/17, Liverpool played 46 games, which amounts to around 4,140 minutes over the season. However, notably, some players struggled with their fitness, which raises questions of how individuals, the team, and the squad will perform in a season that will include a minimum of eight Champions League games (including and providing...

Are Liverpool better equipped to “beat the dross” next season?

"Beat the dross, win the league." A well-known mantra from AI's own Simon Brundish describes the ability of title-winning teams to brush aside, on paper, so-called inferior teams. It may seem a simple concept, but it is born from a simple fact: there are more "inferior" teams to play over the course of a...

Assessing Liverpool’s Attack For The Upcoming Season

In many respects, Liverpool were well equipped in the attacking department last season. Philippe Coutinho on the left wing, Sadio Mane on the right and Roberto Firmino through the middle, The Reds caused teams havoc on the counter-attacking. Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge provided Jurgen Klopp with some rotational options, particularly in the closing stages...

Will This Be Liverpool’s Best Attack Since The 1980s?

The opening 45 minutes of Saturday’s Premier League Asia Trophy final win over Leicester City were unbelievable. There was a frightening pace to the game, especially compared to the usual slow speed of a pre-season friendly, and Liverpool looked irrepressible for the most part. Jurgen Klopp’s attack-minded lineup saw the quintet of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho,...

Liverpool, It’s Time For Scouse Wife-Swap!

You may have tried to forget a 2003 reality show called Wife Swap which started in the UK and later ran in the US and other parts of the world.  The simple premise was that wives, usually frustrated with their actual husband and children, would be sent to live with a different family for two weeks.  You...

Dominic Solanke: A versatile squad player from the off?

Mohamed Salah has already signed, and Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita continue to dominate Liverpool-related transfer news, so Dominic Solanke's arrival on Merseyside has almost gone under the radar. The 19-year-old has now officially joined from Chelsea, after a superb summer that saw him win the U20 World Cup with England and be named...

Make-or-break season for Nathaniel Clyne?

I love a solid player - someone you know will never set the world alight and sell millions of shirts, but who will diligently get on with his job and not leave you tearing your hair out. Nathaniel Clyne has been exactly that for the majority of his Liverpool career, filling the error-strewn void left...

Are Klopp’s January Decisions Costing the Reds Millions in July?

If you want to make a Liverpool supporter sick to their stomach, ask them to think back to January.  It was not a fun month.  What was looking like a juggernaut of a team lost Mané to AFCON, Coutinho and Matip to injury and suddenly we were struggling against lower league competition. Klopp did what...

The Reds’ Midfield Conundrum

With the transfer window officially opening on Saturday, it's no secret Liverpool could well be big spenders this summer. Last season's 4th placed finish did ensure that the Champions League group stages are within touching distance ahead of next season - but in equal measure, it offers plenty of scope for improvement ahead of next...

Scouting Naby Keita – The Unrivalled Midfielder

He’s the talk of the town. Will he ask for a move? Will Liverpool pay the money? Will Leipzig bend to a certain fee? Everyone seems to have their opinion on the Guinean midfielder who lit up the Bundesliga last season, breaking out onto the world scene. So, is he worth all the fuss? In a word:...