January 2018 has proven one of the busiest transfer windows the Reds have had since a certain window back in the 2010/11 season.
Back then Fernando Torres infamously left the club for Chelsea – a move that never worked – whilst Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll arrived with the expectancy they’d be our next legendary front line.
Looking back, now, only half of that strike-force really worked out at the club and now, this January, we see rough similarities.
A big player has arrived – though not an attacker – in Virgil van Dijk, whilst a big player has left, Philippe Coutinho, potentially to the detriment to our play going forwards.
However, the concern that followed Torres’ departure far eclipses that around Coutinho’s.
A marker to show how far we’ve come since then, absolutely, but the Reds will still need to prove that in the coming games and ensure that they don’t fall off in the race for the top 4 so that you can still use your Boylesports Free Bet Code.
The club might even sign another player to help bolster the squad once more – there’s also rumours Naby Keita could arrive early – but really the season will surely be a success if one man reaches his level of last year – Sadio Mane.
The winger was arguably the player of the year last campaign – it was either him or Coutinho – but this season, thanks to injuries and the superb Mo Salah, he has become almost a forgotten man.
The goals and assists are there, but not quite as prominent or numerous as last year with some even criticising him in some games which is perhaps harsh.
For the rest of the season, Liverpool have the top four, the FA Cup and the Champions League to compete for. Defensively we should be more solid in those challenges and whilst the scrutiny will remain on the back-four for now, attention will shift to the attacking side of things to see how the Reds ‘cope’ without Coutinho.
With Salah and Roberto Firmino buzzing around, we should be just fine. There’s also the ever-improving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and recently fit Adam Lallana to come back into the fray.
But it’s Sadio Mane who could really hold the key to a successful season – by that we mean a top four finish and at least one trophy.
If he can rediscover the form of last season and combine that with the campaigns that those in the front line are having, we won’t even notice Coutinho has gone.
Three’s the magic number anyway, there’s no need for a ‘fab four.’
Thoughts, Reds? Let us know below!
