Do Liverpool need to strengthen further in order to challenge for the top four?

However, the 8 months Klopp had in charge were of great benefit to the German, learning about his squad’s strengths and weaknesses as well as reaching two finals on the way.

We’re now halfway through the summer transfer window and Liverpool have got business done early, already capturing the likes of Sadio Mane and Loris Karius as well as completing the signings of Joel Matip and Marko Grujic who both agreed to join the club in January this year, demonstrating Klopp’s desire to build a stronger spine for the 2016/17 season. However, are the signings that Klopp has already made going to be enough to push them towards a top 4 challenge?

Liverpool have struggled with goalkeepers over the last few seasons, with fans and pundits alike turning on Simon Mignolet after the Belgian has been on a downhill slope since the promising start to his reds career.

However, Klopp moved fast in the summer transfer market to snap up German ‘keeper Loris Karius who is widely regarded in the Bundesliga as second best goalkeeper only to the phenomenal Manuel Neuer. The Reds have only played 2 games in pre-season so far but the air of confidence that Karius brings whenever the ball is in the area is surely something Klopp has identified in Mignolet’s game and resolved with the capture of the 23-year-old.

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Liverpool needed to strengthen their defence whether anyone departed the club or not. Jose Enrique, Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure have all been moved on which leaves Klopp with 4 CB’s including the signing of Joel Matip who made the Bundesliga team of the year last season.

Klopp rates Matip highly and his comments suggest that he will be a mainstay in the team which leaves one position up for grabs which provides healthy competition for the likes of Lovren, Sakho and youngster Joe Gomez.

Potentially, Liverpool could do with another CB due to the uncertainty of Sakho’s short term future with the drugs ban and the injury suffered by Joe Gomez. However when all are fit, Liverpool have a pretty decent partnership to call on in defence.

Many fans have called out for the signing of a new left-back to replace Alberto Moreno who was left wanting many times last season, being caught out of position consistently throughout, most notably in the Europa league final. Moreno adds pace to Liverpool’s attack but lacks quality when it comes to delivery and if a defender can’t perfect the first rule of defending which is to defend then he needs replacing.

Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell is apparently rated highly by Klopp and if he’s to be trusted, Liverpool might have solved a problem position they’ve had since John Arne Riise left the club in 2008. On the right side, Clyne is one of the best full-backs in the league on his day so Klopp needn’t worry about this position.

There is uncertainty surrounding the likes of Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva but with the arrival of Marko Grujic, although still only young, Liverpool look to have found an absolute monster of a player. It’s not often you see a player as tall as him move around with the ball like he does and he looks like he could make the perfect partner for Emre Can in a midfield two.

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With backup coming from Jordan Henderson who’s rise to the captaincy was hampered by injury, James Milner (who delivered goals and assists aplenty last season) and the rumoured arrival of Udinese man Piotr Zielinski, Klopp has enough options to call upon.

Klopp has utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation for the majority of his reign and the 3 players behind the striker could cause any team in the Premier League problems. The Brazilian duo Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho will surely occupy two of those positions next season which frees up the RAM position for new boy Sadio Mane to make his own and show what he can do more consistently. These three are then backed up by Adam Lallana who has impressed under Jurgen Klopp as well as the returning Lazar Markovic.  This gives the attacking midfield lots of pace and creativity and whoever plays in the striker role next season will be licking his lips at the prospect of those 3 behind him.

Again, with the 4-2-3-1 formation there is only one place up for grabs and with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings, Liverpool have 3 strikers that possess natural ability as well as bags of pace and goals but their fitness is key as all 3 have had lengthy spells on the sidelines over the past year. If at least two of these can stay fit, Liverpool won’t need to dip into the transfer market for another striker as they have plenty of goals and experience between them already.

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With no European football to play for next season, there is no need for a large squad and if the 4 signings that Klopp has already made can really kick on, as well as the rumoured arrival of Piotr Zielinski, the only real need for strengthening lies at LB where Klopp is already working on a deal to tie up Englishman Ben Chilwell.

The only real reason for Liverpool not to challenge for the top 4 is how other clubs fare in the transfer market from here on out as currently,

Klopp’s men might just be able to pip their rivals to the post. They now boast a stronger spine with a blend of real grit and star quality in midfield as well as 3 strikers who pose a real threat to any team in the division on their day.

Featured Image – All Rights Reserved by Safraz Ali.