2012/13: Will the Reds Go Marching In?

PRE-SEASON is over and the brand new Premier League campaign is underway.

By the time you read this Liverpool FC will have played their first league game of the season at West Brom, and the long summer, bereft of top flight football action, will seem like a distant memory. So, with the season in its utmost infancy, now is the time to have a look at how our beloved LFC may fare over the next ten months or so.

Like many top clubs in the modern era, Liverpool’s pre-season began with a foreign tour.

The Reds flew out to Boston, home of the club’s current owners (FSG), and embarked on a tour of North America which involved warm weather training and three exhibition style games. The games didn’t really tell us too much about what to expect, as most of the first team had only limited involvement but, by all accounts, the intensive training in the heat has paid dividends as the squad looks fighting fit and ready to go. Good news indeed as the Reds look to start the new season with a bang.

Unlike other Premier League clubs, LFC’s competitive season had already begun. By virtue of the fact that the club qualified for European competition last year by winning the League Cup, the Reds have already played a two legged qualifier against FC Gomel of Belarus. Gomel proved to be worthy opposition in the first-leg against a Liverpool side that still looked very much as if it was in the throes of pre-season (which of course it was) and Brendan Rodgers side was more than fortunate to escape from the former Soviet hinterland with a 1-0 win. The second-leg, however, was much more encouraging, as a visibly fitter, stronger, sharper Liverpool side dominated possession and put their weaker opponents to the sword in front of the Anfield faithful.

It was this second-leg, albeit against inferior opposition, really gave us an indication of what we can hopefully expect to see from Brendan Rodgers’ team this year. For the first time, Liverpool looked like a Brendan Rodgers outfit and it was apparent for all to see that the squad are making every effort to take the new manager’s philosophy on board and are seemingly adapting to it at a rate of knots. Whilst the dominance, the passing and the possession were all very pleasing to see, two other aspects really stood out in the Anfield encounter.

The first was the intense pressing practiced by LFC players when not in possession. We began to see how the boss’s “six second rule” will actually work and, if carried out effectively, it will be a major weapon this season. The second thing to shine through was that Liverpool will not be content to keep the ball and knock it backwards and to the side for ninety minutes, as some had feared. The reverse, in fact, seems to be true. Whilst the players will not be encouraged to be gung-ho in any way, there appears to be a strong emphasis on turning the ball over and, when possible, attacking with pace and fluidity before the opponent can get set.

Looking ahead to the rest of the Premier League campaign, I have high hopes (as all Liverpool fans tend to at this stage of the year). High but not, I believe, unrealistic ones. So far the club’s activity in the transfer window has been solid. Fabio Borini has come in from Roma and, although he doesn’t have the silky skills of a Luis Suarez, he may just be the perfect foil for our mercurial Uruguayan ace. Borini knows Rodgers’ philosophy inside out, has fantastic movement and, crucially, is a naturally, clinical finisher-something which LFC were crying out for last term.

As well as Borini, Rodgers has brought in Joe Allen from Swansea. Many have raised eyebrows over the fee (believed to be £15m) for such a young, relatively unproven player, however, I think the Welshman will prove to be worth his weight in gold to the club over the next number of years. Another who has a great bond with our new boss, Allen will slot in perfectly with Lucas and Gerrard to form one of the most complete midfield trios in the league. All excellent players in their own right, the three will complement each other perfectly and have all the attributes to dictate any game.

There are still a few deals to be done in the transfer window. News on Thursday came through that the club had moved for Heerenveen winger Oussama Assaidi. Apparently a fee of £3m had been agreed and the player who scored ten goals and provided seven assists from 27 games last season put pen to paper on Friday.
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I don’t know much about Assaidi, however, he is very highly rated in Holland (who he refused to be capped for, favouring to play for Morocco instead) and was all set to sign for Frank de Boer at Ajax before the move broke down and Liverpool snapped him up. From what I’ve seen he is a flying winger, utilised mainly on the left but is strong on either foot. He appears to be exactly the kind of Adam Johnson/Kevin Mirallas/Gaston Ramirez player that fans have been crying out for and, at £3m, the 24 year old represents minimal risk.

Rumours abound of other potential arrivals and departures. Nuri Sahin is reportedly set to sign on loan from Real Madrid and apparently the club are still keen on adding Dempsey to the ranks, whilst Theo Walcott is reportedly a target. Going the other way, there is talk that Adam could be on his way out and there is still a possibility that Andy Carroll may be sold. Thankfully, it seems that Daniel Agger will be staying, as both he and the manager have publicly stated their desire for the Great Dane to remain. Should Sahin and one other complete moves to Anfield by deadline day, along with the signings that have already been made, the squad will look lean, mean and ready for the season.

The Reds haven’t been handed any easy fixtures in the first few weeks of the campaign, with matches against Arsenal and both Manchester clubs in the first month of the season. However, these games are all at Anfield and, with the squad sharp and fit after Europa League exploits and LFC’s knack of upsetting the “big boys”, I see no reason why the Reds can’t take a decent haul of points out of those three games. They will certainly provide early tests, however, the squad is eminently capable.

One of LFC’s biggest problems in recent years has been the side’s inability to finish off the perceived “lesser sides”. This season, however, Rodgers’ system, with its emphasis on control and domination of possession, combined with penetration up front and more clinical finishing, should help us with that. If the lads can see these sides off with increased regularity and challenge the top teams in the normal fashion, a top four finish could be within reach.

As I said in the opening couple of paragraphs, I’m optimistic, however, I don’t feel that I’m being unrealistic. Whilst it isn’t the be all and end all and the vast majority of fans would settle for visible progress, I feel that a top four finish can be achieved. There are several reasons for this, firstly: last year was freak year and the table at the end of the season did not reflect the quality of football played nor the manner in which the side played. Put simply we were excruciatingly unfortunate at times and finished in a false position. Secondly (touch wood): we enter this season with all key players fully fit. Thirdly: the players that have come in and the one’s reportedly due to arrive are players that will fit the system well and add strength and depth to the squad that is already in place.

Fourthly: with Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Johnson and Lucas we have as strong and settled a back six as you’ll find anywhere in the Premier League and, in front of them, if you add Gerrard and Suarez, you’d have to travel a long way before finding a team with a better, more experienced spine. Finally: there is a massive feel good factor around the club moving into the new season. Brendan Rodgers’ appointment, his words, his philosophy, even down to little things like resurrecting the red nets at Anfield, have brought renewed hope and belief to fans and players alike. It is as if the club has been born again and, if that positive energy and momentum can be translated onto the pitch, then there’s no telling what can be achieved.

In conclusion, I am not piling over the top expectations onto Brendan Rodgers and LFC this season. I too would settle for tangible progress being made and a final league place of fifth or sixth, however, in my opinion, Champions League football is attainable. Spurs and Chelsea both start the season with new, relatively untested managers, with other question marks hanging over them. Newcastle are unlikely to repeat the form that they showed last year (although they may) and we’re not going to finish behind the Toffees again. So, by that logic and all the other reasons discussed above, the Reds definitely have a shot at going marching on to the top four, where they belong.

You can catch Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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