2009/10 Season preview - Liverpool
2008/09 - Liverpool pushed for the title further than anyone expected last season. Gaining a club record 86 points in the league, they fell just four short of Manchester United’s league-winning total. Indeed, they even occupied top spot for a large proportion of the season before Rafa Benitez’s infamous rant. With such a heavy concentration on the league, Liverpool’s cup form suffered. Exiting in the FA Cup fourth round to local rivals Everton - and at the same stage to Spurs in the League Cup - left supporters with no domestic titles for the year. In perhaps the most memorable encounters of the whole tournament, Liverpool were defeated by Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final, eventually losing 7-5 on aggregate. However, any Liverpool fan’s highlight? Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4. Enough said.
2009/10 - Once again, Liverpool go into the campaign a certainty for the top four. The club will be expected to push on and win the title which is a fair expectation. On paper, the Reds have strengthened where Man Utd appear to have been depleted of key squad members. With this considered, Liverpool should certainly be occupying first position for a number of weeks. The question is whether they can sustain their place and it is essential the fringe players step up their game. Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva are just two players guilty of failing to contribute - this is the season to impress.
Transfer campaign - Liverpool’s initial budget was spent on Glen Johnson early into the summer. Now England’s first choice right-back, Johnson was also a target for Chelsea but opted for the Reds in the end. At £17.5m, Liverpool fans were shocked at Johnson’s price tag but only time will prove just how wise the move was. Recouping their money and then some, selling Xabi Alonso has created a hole in the team quickly addressed by the Italian Alberto Aquilani. The most notable exits elsewhere have come in the form of Alvaro Arbeloa and Sami Hyypia but Liverpool fans should have no reason to worry about the losses overall.
Transfers in
Glen Johnson - Portsmouth - £17.5m
Aaron King -Rushden & Diamonds –Undisclosed
Stephen Sama - Borussia Dortmund - Undisclosed
Chris Mavinga - Paris St Germain - Undisclosed
Andriy Voronin – Hertha BSC - Return from loan
Alberto Aquilani - Roma - £20m
Transfers out
Xabi Alonso – Real Madrid - £30m
Sebastian Leto - Panathinaikos - £3.5m
Alvaro Arbeloa - Real Madrid – £3.4m
Paul Anderson - Nottingham Forest – £250,000
Jack Hobbs - Leicester – £400,000
Sami Hyypia - Bayer Leverkusen - Free Transfer
Jermaine Pennant - Real Zaragoza - Free Transfer
Shane O'Connor - Ipswich - Free Transfer
Astrit Ajdarevic - Leicester -Free Transfer
Ryan Flynn - Falkirk - Season Loan
Dean Bouzanis - Wrexham - Season Loan
First XI - The formation should stay the same with Steven Gerrard the main support for Fernando Torres. As the main transfer thus far, Johnson is the major change to Liverpool’s strongest line-up. The only real issue for selection at the moment will be the replacement of Alonso. Lucas will have to step in for the first few weeks of the season with Alonso’s replacement Aquilani recovering from ankle surgery.
1 Reina
2 Johnson – 23 Carragher – 5 Agger – 12 Fabio Aurelio
18 Kuyt – 21 Lucas – 20 Mascherano - 11 Riera
8 Gerrard
9 Torres
The manager - Benitez is a manager very much set in his ways. A 4-5-1 with very attacking wingers has been his tactic of choice for a long period now and it seems to suit Liverpool perfectly. His man-management appears second-to-none with little dissent in the ranks - quite often referring to his major players for their opinion on signings. A lot has been made of Rafa’s outburst last season and he will be careful to avoid such a slip-up this year. However, what can be certain is that if any man can bring the title to Merseyside, it will be the Spaniard.
Creative force - The obvious, yet unquestionable, choice for this role is Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard. Over the years he has developed an ability unparalleled in English football. Goals, assists, tackles and passes - Gerrard has it all and will deliver season-long. Should Torres get injured this campaign, it will be vital for Gerrard to build up a rapport with his replacement. Master this and Liverpool may well be the home of the title once more.
Mr. Reliable - Jamie Carragher is undoubtedly the team’s reliable player. Proven over a number of seasons now, Carragher is quite often Liverpool’s saviour in defence. Brave, quick, strong and passionate, Liverpool’s No 23 is a certainty in the line-up. His continuing form has been greatly aided by his international retirement and fans will look to their vice-captain to once more provide a sterling example to the team.
Youth prospect - Injury has been the only thing preventing Krisztian Nemeth making an impact at Anfield earlier on in his career. Phenomenal at all youth international levels, Nemeth will look to push for a place on the bench this season and may well get his chance. Goals in pre-season will have done his bid no damage and he will definitely be competition for second choice striker this year. Keep a close eye on this talented Hungarian.
The fixtures - Not facing a top four side, or Manchester City, until October should give Liverpool the ideal opportunity to get ahead. A tough test away at Tottenham on the first day of the season should be the only worry for Benitez until the schedule really kicks in. The only really consistent test of their strength comes in February where the Reds face Everton (February 6), Arsenal (February 9) and then Man City (February 20). At what proved such an important part of the season last year, Liverpool will be keen not to slip up again after Christmas. The other contests to look out for take place as Manchester United travel to Anfield on October 25 and host the Reds on March 20 (expect this to move for television).
Home grown talent - Liverpool’s squad consists of 33 players at present. With nine English players that makes their percentage of home grown players 28 per cent. However, with Johnson, Carragher and Gerrard the only three likely to play, the figures look far less impressive. Implementation of 6+5 would mean quality English acquisitions over the next few seasons and Liverpool will definitely be hoping for sustained halts in the rule’s progress.
Season prediction - Without the squad depth of any of their rivals, keeping their players fit is a massive part of Liverpool’s season. They will start quick and make their mark but the challenge is a season-long one. Here, they failed last season and Benitez will be keen to avoid similar mistakes this time round. Glen Johnson may be the difference that Liverpool need. His attacking ability will be a constant thorn to opposition and he will have even more license to attack than at Portsmouth. Those who criticised the signing should prepare to eat their words now. However, the title is still Man Utd’s to lose - how they cope with their squad losses will ultimately decide the title. Benitez may well hope to pick up an English cup but may quickly forsake them and the Champions League should the title remain within reach. Prediction - 2nd - just.
2009/10 Season previews
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Hull City
Liverpool
Manchester City
Portsmouth
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