So, the dust has settled on the tumultuous, glorious 2019/20 season, when even a global pandemic didn’t dampen the spirits of Liverpool fans as they watched their team claim the crown for the first time since 1990. Not content with merely winning the league, the Reds smashed records on their way to the top, including having had the biggest lead in the history of the top-flight, and having the earliest title win ever.
Of course, the one thing tougher than getting back on the perch is staying there. And with trailers like Manchester City and Chelsea reloading their squads during the transfer window, all eyes are on how new blood might rejuvenate Liverpool’s rivals as the struggle for supremacy in the new season begins.
First up, let’s consider the Reds themselves, and how the squad may look in the very near future. There’s been a lot of debate about Roberto Firmino this year, with the Brazilian striker receiving flack for his scoring abilities in 2019/20. Sure, he achieved a haul of nine goals during the Premier League campaign, but only one was at home in Anfield, and he significantly under-performed in the context of his xG, or Expected Goal, numbers. As a result, despite being an integral part of the formidable front three alongside Mané and Salah, and despite being a bona fide Reds superstar, many continue to debate his value to Liverpool.
Of course, his advocates point out that Firmino’s worth can’t be measured in goals alone, and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has praised him as the “engine room” for both offense and defence. “We just don’t think about it,” Klopp said. “It’s not important who scores. We need Bobby for other things. We need Bobby in exactly the spaces where he was today. We need him as the link-up for all the other things.”
And the nay-sayers have since been silenced by Firmino’s performance in the pre-season friendly against Stuttgart, where he contributed to the 3-0 thrashing and has notched 3 goals in 3 pre-season fixtures. But, despite their continued strong showing in the aftermath of the triumphant season, Liverpool won’t be resting on their laurels. All eyes are on Thiago Alcantara, the Spanish midfielder who played such a key part in Bayern Munich’s victory over PSG in the Champions League final. There has been heated speculation that Alcantara is a shoo-in for a transfer to Liverpool, which would make the Reds even more dangerous when the ball is in the middle of the field. Questions definitely still remain over how Liverpool’s midfield will look when they line up against Leeds on September 12th, as the future of Gini Wijnaldum has also been mired in speculation. Nonetheless, the pursuit of Thiago is proof that Klopp is not being complacent. As Sky Sports journalist Vinny O’Connor has put it, “They have to improve because if you look at the likes of Chelsea at the moment, Man City are going to improve, Man Utd have had a run that has taken them into the Champions League once again.”
Speaking of the other big teams, how are things shaping up for them during the summer transfer window? Manchester City, runners up in 2019/20, are methodically rebuilding in the run-up to the next season, signing Valencia winger Ferran Torres (who is hungry for Man City’s “open, aggressive style”), and Bournemouth defender Nathan Aké. Indeed, shoring up their defence is a key concern for Pep Guardiola, as it seems he still has his sights set on Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegalese star is one of the top centre-backs in Europe, and could make a decisive difference to City’s ambitions to topple Liverpool. And how can we ignore the rampant speculation surrounding that little Argentine player at Barcelona who seemed keen for a reunion with Pep. Whilst it won’t be happening this season, who knows if we’ll be seeing Messi line-up in sky blue in a year’s time.
As for the other half of Manchester… Well, Gary Neville has been damningly unequivocal about how the Red Devils absolutely require rebuilding, saying: “I don’t think this Manchester United team at this moment can challenge for the title next season… I think that Ole needs three or four more of those as a minimum before he can even think about getting up into third or second place.”
It’s no secret that United would like Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho to be a part of any potential restructuring, but negotiations have been mired in mud, with the transfer fee among the sticking points. The goal-scoring machine that is Sancho would certainly bring some all-important pep to Man United’s attacking line-up, and fans are impatient for a breakthrough here. Yet it’s also been reported that Manchester United are prepared to pay even more than the Sancho asking price for Barcelona’s teenage sensation Ansu Fati. Whatever happens, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems determined to do whatever it takes to regain United’s former glory, saying: “We have to be better. We’re too far away from where we need to be and want to be.” Ole will be hoping the introduction of Donny van de Beek into a midfield with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes is a step in that direction.
Meanwhile Chelsea have been the busiest of the bunch this transfer window, with deals confirmed for Bayern Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, Leicester left back Ben Chilwell, and one-time PSG captain Thiago Silva. But the big, looming question for Frank Lampard is how to replace the Blues’ goalkeeper. Current No.1 Kepa Arrizabalaga has been criticised for his dismal performances last season, with former Premier League player Jamie O’Hara dismissing him as a “complete waste of money”.
Lampard is evidently dissatisfied, and it’s clear Chelsea cannot move forwards with a serious bid to climb up the table without sorting out their goalie conundrum. A name currently in contention is Lille’s Mike Maignan, although all bets are off on how things will pan out between the sticks with what may be Chelsea’s most crucial transfer of the window. All in all, it promises to be an exciting new dawn for the Blues, and with the money spent it’s evident Roman Abramovich has renewed enthusiasm and appetite to take on Manchester City and Liverpool.
On to Leicester City, who were riding high in the top four – with a Champions League spot within touching distance – before being cruelly displaced to fifth place by Manchester United in their last league fixture. What now for the club?
One key concern is finding a striker to partner with Jamie Vardy, with manager Brendan Rodgers keen to bolster the “attacking element of the team”. A hotly tipped candidate in the frame is Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, who had a working relationship with Rodgers back when the latter was Celtic manager. But the Foxes also need to consider the damage inflicted on their momentum by injuries. Many have noted that, if they want any hope of catching Liverpool, the squad needs to build up depth so they won’t be left flailing when key players are sidelined by busted body parts, which was a major problem for the team last season. Losing Ben Chillwell to what some fans may consider a rival is a blow, but eagerly await the debut of a replacement who impressed with Atalanta this season in Timothy Castagne.
And then there’s Spurs, who finished in sixth place. Despite the lack of fireworks, manager Jose Mourinho has been as cool and unruffled as ever, bluntly refusing to get caught up in transfer mania. “Are we going to buy 10 players? No,” he said. “Are we going to buy players for £100m? No. We are going to improve. We are going to keep the structure of this team because we have absolutely no interest in seeing one of our fundamental players leave.”
That said, some cover for Harry Kane wouldn’t go amiss, and Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik has been reported to be in “tentative talks” to provide the requisite back-up firepower for the Lilywhites. Meanwhile, midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made the move over from Southampton in August. Will his arrival, along with that of Burnley’s Joe Hart, actually re-shape Tottenham’s fortunes in the coming season and cause the likes of Man City or Liverpool to sweat? It’s going to be very interesting to find out.