Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield revolution has continued to gather momentum on Merseyside during the summer, and it has been reflected in the German’s transfer business for the Reds this summer. Having signed a total of six players, which include goalkeepers Alex Manninger and Loris Karius, defenders Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United and Southampton attacker Sadio Mané, Liverpool are expected to make significant progress in challenging for the top four in the Premier League or perhaps even the title in 2016/17.
However, the inconsistencies of last season are still to be ironed out it seems. After a sensational 4-3 over Arsenal at the Emirates on the opening weekend, Klopp saw his side capitulate early on at Turf Moor and suffer a first ever Premier League loss to Burnley, before a late Danny Rose goal denied the Reds all three points at White Hart Lane last Saturday, after James Milner’s penalty had put them ahead.
With a return of four points from the opening three games of the new season, Jurgen Klopp will be well aware that there are still issues to be resolved before Liverpool can be considered genuine title contenders, particularly the left-back conundrum, with Alberto Moreno having been ruthlessly exposed on far too many occasions, and James Milner currently occupying the position having been redeployed from his usual midfield role in order to pick up the pieces defensively.
Having been met with frustration in their pursuit of Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic, Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, Leicester’s Ben Chilwell, Dinamo Zagreb’s Ante Coric and Inter’s Marcelo Brozovic this summer- the former of which is now more likely to join the club in future windows after expressing a desire to fight for a place at Signal Iduna Park for the time being. The club also have to account for the fact that Martin Skrtel and Christian Benteke have both been shown the exit door at Anfield already this summer, with Fenerbahce and Crystal Palace the respective destinations, whilst exits for Mamadou Sakho and Mario Balotelli are also on the agenda amidst interest in the latter from Palermo in his native Italy and Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, the latter of which has already entered talks with the Italy international, whilst there are concerns over the professionalism and attitude of France international Sakho, who may leave on loan. Thus there are vacancies defensively and offensively that Klopp could still fill before the 11pm deadline, but who might still arrive at Anfield before it’s time up?