Dortmund Preview
With only one pre-season fixture remaining for the reds to thinker with, I thought I would give a little sneak peak of this Sunday's match to come, given as it does not come much bigger than this, where friendlies are concerned.
One thing is for certain, the atmosphere at Anfield will be nothing but exceptional come Sunday lunchtime. The two teams boast two of the best sets of supporters word football has to offer, and when 'You'll Never Walk Alone' blasts through the Anfield speakers come 12:15 pm, me, amongst others, will sit down, in front of my TV box, eyes closed, and let it all sink in. What an unbelievable sight for sore eyes.
One major talking point to go through prior to kick off is regarding the player on most Liverpool fan's lips at the moment, Marco Reus. Will he be fit to play? Will this be a one way trip to Merseyside for the 25 year old? Those are the questions coming out of every fans mouths at the moment. If Reus does get a run out this weekend, the reception he will receive from both sets of supporters will be nothing but exceptional, and that is certain. A signing with the qualities that a player like Reus possesses would be a great feat for the club, but I won't pursue this point further. I have stated my view on the matter pretty clearly on one of my previous blogs. ( That One Big Name Striker. Who Will It Be? - www.kennymifsud.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/lfc-one-big-name-striker-who-will-it-be.html )
My prediction? 2-1 to Liverpool. With the likes of Sturridge and Markovic returning to the squad, added to that the probable introduction to the first team set up of new signing Dejan Lovren, I am feeling optimistic about this one. Rodger needs a solid performance from his men in red, as August the 17th looms in the distance.
The New Season
Manager Watch
Following on from that little taster of this weekend's friendly, it is back to the itty gritty, tension filled start to the Premier League season we are all expecting. First up for the reds, a home fixture against a 'somewhat' disarrayed Southampton side. What can possible go wrong? Many, many things, as past seasons have proved. In the past 6 Premier League seasons, opening days have produced two wins, three draws and two defeats for the reds, a statistic Rodgers would be keen on improving as the years pass by.
Do not get too alarmed by past opening day mishaps, as this is a very different Liverpool side, as we have witnessed in the 2013-14 season. One major factor to the reds reign to the summit being, obviously, Brendan Rodgers. The boss is facing an extremely crucial season ahead of him, and needs to rally his troops for the months that are yet to come. Following the exit of talisman Luis Suarez this summer, many a Liverpool fan feared what is to come their way this summer. Tottenham failed miserably in their own attempt to replace Gareth Bale, and Brendan will be hoping his team do not go down the same path. The boss has spent well so far, capturing 8 players in the process. That one 'marquee' striker still looms in the air, and Brendan and his staff will have to act quickly in order to prevent a similar occurrence to the window he endured two summers ago. There is no doubting the manager's commitment to making Liverpool a force in Europe. Champions League football will return as from September the 16th, and whilst the reds may be faced with the infamous 'group of death', Rodgers will do everything in his power to ensure the reds enjoy a positive stint on Europe's biggest stage.
Youngster To Shine
If I had to look back at last season, there is only one player that comes to mind, regarding this prize, and that would be Jon Flanagan. From being on the fringes of the squad, (with many of us calling for his head), to cementing a place in Rodgers' first team set up, and doing a good job in the process, young Flanno has grown into a full professional in the last year, with much more yet to come from the 21 year old. Many of the current academy prospects will be looking at Flanagan's progression as an inspiration for them, something they themselves can fulfil in the future. This year's youngster to shine is an 18 year old who has made our jaws drop to the floor on numerous occasions this pre season ; Jordon Ibe.
Let us face it, the kids has the world at his feet at the moment. Neutral's watching Liverpool's tour of the US would not be blamed for thinking the winger is already a full international and a first team competitor on all fronts. No, young Ibe is just 18 years old, and this season could be the season where we look at a winger progressing into the mould of a first team starter, much like one if his fellow team mates, Raheem Sterling. Rewind a few years back, and most of us where thinking the former would break into the first team before young Raheem. The only slight blip which may hinder Ibe's progression is, of course, the competition for places. The 20 million pound signing of wonder kid Lazar Markovic, added to it the star striker yet to be brought in to the club, are two of the main reasons young Ibe may find it an uphill battle to make his step up into Brendan's first team plans. This is exactly why the boss might look at a loan spell to a lower league team being the best option for Ibe to gain some much needed experience. I personally think he should stay where he is. Competition for places is always healthy for any club. If the chance is given to him, and is taken, we might just be witnessing a new starlet emerge from Anfield's ever-promising academy.
One To Watch
Football is all about surprises. Those moments we stop motionless in front of our TV screens telling ourselves, 'Wait, how did he just do that?'. That right there is what makes football the best sport in the word. Brendan's men have brought us many surprises, mainly last season. Who could have predicted a top two finish? Who would have predicted Liverpool, being top of the table, 7 points clear with a couple of games left to play? I would have bitten your hand off for a top four finish, and there we found ourselves, in dismay as we failed to clinch the title.
There is always that player in a team, whom you predict big things to happen for them in that particular season. Last year we saw that with Jordan Henderson, a lad brought in by King Kenny for 20 million, three years ago. His first season passed, and fans all over the country where brandishing young Hendo a massive flop. Talks where flying left, right and centre about a possible exit for the Geordie. Now, as we approach the 2014-2015 season, Henderson is one Liverpool's top performers, a starter for the English national team, and all this, at the age of 24. Rodgers managed to put his arm over the youngster, and ever since then, he has repayed the faith shown in him by turning into the running machine that is Jordan Henderson. This season, there is only one star that comes to mind whilst speaking about progression, and that is Philippe Coutinho.
He may not have had the lacklustre start to his Liverpool career that Henderson endured, but the 22 year old Brazilian magician has massive strides of yet to progress in his career, and when he does so, we could be witnessing one of the world's greatest midfield players in the making. Yes, I am that confident in the kid's ability. At the mere age of 22, Coutinho has emerged a huge talent under Rodgers, who signed the lad himself for a petty fee of 8 million pounds. His omission from Brazil's World Cup squad got many a Liverpool fan scratching their heads in shock, wondering there the Brazilians would have finished if they opted on picking the midfield maestro. Massive heaps of praise have been thrown Coutinho's way of late, which does not seem to be fazing the kid, who has started off his pre season preparations as he finished the last campaign, drawing our breaths with every piece of skill, and leaving us wanting more each and every time. Philippe Coutinho is going to be a very special player, and come this time, 2015, we could be talking about a player who lit the Premier League on fire in the season to come.
Signing To Impress
Contrary to previous transfer windows, (most notably the disastrous one in 2012), picking a summer signing to impress is definitely going to be made an easier job for me this time round. The owners have not shied away from reaching for their massive wallets in this window, which may come as a surprise to many, as we look back at a couple of previous transfer mishaps, where the club seemed to hide away when the price range got too high. With a whopping 87 million pounds spent on eight players thus far, (One of the eight being a loan deal and one being a free transfer), one or two signings are still yet to enter the fray, as we look at who, of these eight signings made so far, can turn into a gem under Rodgers and gel in right away.
Southampton visit Anfield on the opening day in familiarity with a few of our squad members. The main reason being, we bought three of their stars in one window. I, amongst many, eagerly anticipate what is to come from the trio in a red shirt. However, I will not be choosing any of them as my summer signing to impress. We have seen the Saints in action for a couple of seasons now, and we have gotten used to seeing the trio of stars strut their stuff across the UK. I am going for a younger face, the 20 year old tank that is Emre Can.
The ex Bayer Leverkusen anchorman came to Liverpool a month ago with no massive expectancy levels put on him. Cover for Lucas Leiva in that defensive midfield area was a must for Rodgers, and in came Emre Can, a 20 year old brimming with confidence following his big 10 million move. What I have witnessed from Can in our pre season tour of the US is exactly the reason I have chosen him as my signing to look out for. The youngster is a tank. His comfortable stature and movement on the ball has gotten us Liverpool fans mightily impressed indeed. In one of my previous blogs, I admit to stating that Can is nowhere near fitting Lucas' boots as of yet. Now though, I am beginning to doubt myself on that point. He looks like he can handle the mantle of playing for a club the size of Liverpool. An impressive stint in the first team could prove all doubters wrong, and could shape himself up to be a massive bargain at 10 million pounds. Can Can step up to the plate in a position that seems to be worrying Rodgers as the season commences? We will soon find out. Till then, I will let you enjoy a video of the tank that is Emre Can bullying and pushing aside a certain Mario Balotelli.
Prediction Time
Premier League
Following the reds unbelievably close battle with rivals City, which saw them come out second best, Rodgers will look for revenge this time out, and there is nothing I, as a reds supporter, want to see more than Stevie G lift that 19th league title. This year may prove to be the toughest of all seasons to do so, as we have seen our rivals all strengthen in key areas so far. We may be about to witness a six or seven way horse race for the title, instead of the three way battle we endured last season. My biased nature will get the better of me yet again, and I will be predicting a podium finish for the red men. Leaving to one side the sale of Kop idol Suarez, Liverpool look to have spent the incoming money well thus far and will no doubt get stronger as a squad. That is why I am predicting the reds to go one better this time round, and secure that 19th league title.
Champions League
9th of December, 2009.A last gasp Alberto Gilardino strike for Fiorentina saw Liverpool crush out of Europe at the round of 16 stage. Who would have thought that now, September 2014 would be the next time the red men step out on Europe's biggest platform? The most important factor is that it has finally returned. Following on from all those years of absence, Rodgers' men may be looking at a possible 'group of death' scenario coming their way. The hardest possible outcome could pit ourselves in a group amongst Real Madrid, PSG and Roma, whilst the easiest outcome could see us face Benfica, Basel and FC Salzburg. Whatever the draw produces, Brendan knows his team have to be ready for any challenge coming their way. No European game is an easy game to win. I, personally, am just happy to be back, anticipating the sounds of the Champions League theme song ring around Anfield on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. If that does not make you cheery enough, just remember one factor, Manchester United fans all around the world will switch on their TV stations come CL week, knowing full and well that they are not going to see their team pop up on any channel. A round of 16 place would not be a disastrous return amongst Europe's elite for the reds. Therefore, that is what I am predicting. Then again, nobody predicted Rafa's Liverpool would go that far in 2005. I may be reaching way above my head here, but stranger things have happened in football.
FA Cup
Brendan Rodgers has made one of his main season objectives very clear in his pre season press conferences. He wants silverware. Whether it is the league, Champions League, or FA Cup, Rodgers wants a trophy to bring back to Anfield this season, and who could blame him? Having a medal to bring back and show the kids is much more prestigious than a top four finish. (Unless it is a first place finish, or you are Arsene Wenger, where a top four finish tops anything else in the game.) This reason alone is exactly why Liverpool should go all guns blazing with their efforts to win the FA Cup. With our last triumph coming in that epic penalty shoot-out win over West Ham in 2006, Rodgers will look towards a long cup stint, and a jubilant Steven Gerrard lifting the cup at the end of it. My prediction is a progression to the final. Whether we will win it or not remains to be seen. An Andy Carroll header which was saved off the line by Petr Cech in 2012 was all that separated us and silverware that season, and Liverpool will look to go one further this time.
Capital One Cup
What? Are you telling me that this competition still exists? Jokes aside, the Capital One Cup has proved to be a reserves league of sorts, and is getting worse as every season progresses. Exactly the reasons as to why the FA have yet to ditch this cup and focus solely on the FA Cup is beyond me. A talking point for another day, perhaps. The reds are recent winners of this cup, of course, beating Cardiff on penalties at Wembley back in 2012. Since then, the romance of this cup competition has slowly petered away, with most of the top teams fielding their fringe players. This season, the Capital One Cup is the perfect stage for Rodgers to have a thinker with some of his youngsters and fringe players. I do not think we should concentrate too heavily on this competition, and fielding some inexperienced academy prospects should be in Rodgers' approach. Then again, knowing Liverpool's luck, a first round draw with a top team will force us to bring out the big guns, placing Rodgers' tinkering plans to the gutter. Although my clear disinterest in this cup, I am predicting a simple quarter final exit for the reds, and here is what Rodgers' second team could look like come the start of the new campaign ;
Jones
Manquillo Coates Sakho Enrique
Lucas
Lallana Can
Ibe Lambert Markovic
I have to admit, that is a massive improvement from previous Liverpool squads in the past years.
There you have it, everything you need to know about Liverpool's 2014-2015 upcoming campaign in one blog. There will be highs and there will be lows, (a higher percentage of highs hopefully), but one thing is definite, as we reach the weekend before the weekend that is, Liverpool FC are once again a force to be reckoned with. We have all stuck through the worst of times, from the Hicks and Gillett saga, to the short and disastrous tenure under Roy Hodgson, and now, as Liverpool prepare for another title challenge and a hit at the Champions League as well, us reds faithful can lift our heads together and chant loud and proud, "We Are Liverpool!!" For all this success and joy, we have only person to thank and praise, and that man is Brendan Rodgers. The one figure who has transformed Liverpool in a matter of two years. This is just the beginning of it all for the club. We eagerly wait and watch how Rodgers will cope whilst under the pressure of managing a top side and battling to win every competition the reds are in. Whilst fans of Manchester United gleam and boast about their new appointment of Van Gaal, I remain extremely satisfied that the club did not opt on taking that route three years ago and rightfully chose Rodgers instead.
Luis Suarez may have gone, but Liverpool return with a point to prove. They are no 'one season wonders'. Anfield has become a fortress once again, and Liverpool have returned to the summit of English football, a place which rightfully belongs to a club of this size.
Follow me on Twitter and share your views : @kennymifsud
YNWA !!
No comments:
Post a Comment