For a whole summer Liverpool quietly watched the big rivalry pour huge sums on procurement, but when the roster that led her to win the champions so coordinated and balanced, one can understand why. The need for Dibala and Coutinho, the process that Klopp completed and the most important "reinforcement". Will it end in the championship?
For a whole summer Liverpool quietly watched the big rivalry pour huge sums on procurement, but when the roster that led her to win the champions so coordinated and balanced, one can understand why. The need for Dibala and Coutinho, the process that Klopp completed and the most important "reinforcement". But if you think about it in depth, should Liverpool really be more active in the summer window? What should have been her goal? On the face of it, she seems to have all she needs in 11: one of the best goalkeepers in the world (and some will say the best in the world), who returned to Melwood after winning only one box office America (also in Pendel); A powerful defense center that includes Virgil Van Dyke, who competes for the Golden Ball; Two frantic shields with unusual game vision and the icing on the whipped cream: a front threesome that has become the terror of defenses in England and Europe as a whole.
So true, the Liverpool midfielder lacks a creative player who creates more situations and won't be afraid to kick from a distance - one that he needed last season. But when you look at the market and the names thrown, one might understand why she gave up the pleasure. A player like Paolo DiBalla, who was mentioned as a candidate to reach the European Championships long before his name was linked to Tottenham or Manchester United, just doesn't fit the pressure game for Klopp, and he doesn't have to say goodbye to € 70m just to bring a sparkling star to sell jerseys. It's just not his style.
What about Filippa Coutinho you ask? Well, this is a player who eventually left Liverpool just a year and a half ago to fulfill the dream of most Brazilians, but realized he was far from sparkling. He was one of the bright spots in Liverpool's dark days, which did not stop him from doing everything he could to leave her, including complaining of questionable injury and exerting pressure on management to release him. Even if the Merseysideers were willing to forget and forgive, it's not at all certain that he was a regular car player. So is it worth pouring huge sums on purchase or rent for the exciting union? It's hard to say yes.
Of course last summer was far from ideal, but Liverpool have a roster deep enough to run in at least two major frames: the Champions League and the Premier League. Shardan Shakiri and Origi Dibuk are supposed to be the offensive force to rise from the bench and make a difference, just like last season, and join the young Ryan Brewster who impressed in preparation and be part of the senior roster. Adam Lana, Giorgio Giannaldum and James Milner will give Klopp a plethora of midfield options based on a given match.
And you can't forget Liverpool's most significant "acquisition" this summer - Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. The England midfielder, who has returned from the serious injury he suffered in the 2017/18 Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City, will add color to the midfield and could serve as a backup to the winger in case Muhammad Salah or Sadio Mana are injured or tired. Already in the Community Shield, he got 11 minutes from Klopp and showed he was still sharp.
And, perhaps, in recent years, Liverpool's average fan base could be rebuilt every summer. In 2014, she embarked on a procurement campaign that was supposed to make up for the departure of Luis Soares and included Mario Alotelli, Ricky Lambert and a host of players who took her down. A year later, she tried to make up for it with £ 43m going to Aston Villa's bank account for Christian Bentka, which ended in a Brendan Rogers dismissal in October.
Klopp arrived and the acquisitions became more focused. Every player came specifically to the Manager's request, every purchase had a goal, every player who came or left did so because that is his method. Because that's how satisfying fans become believers. He became an offensive midfielder for Roberto Firmino who makes more defense than Belem, in the summer of 2016 he joined Sidio Mana on the left, in the summer of 2017 he added Mohammed Salah to the right. A terrific step-by-step build. Piece by piece.
And that ended in the title and another in a title - the Champions League. Klopp's exact construction paid off and huge until there just seemed to be nothing left to strengthen. If you had to take out one of Klopp's 11 regulars in favor of one of the players looking for a new team this summer, who would you take out? The German built one effective unit that any change to it could be beyond unnecessary - maybe even devastating.
And if there are injuries? Liverpool can't run for long without Mohammed Salah or Sadio Mana - skeptics claim, but forget at the same time that at the crucial stages of the season they did not take part in a number of games and it did not make a significant impact. The Egyptian and Senegalese were not on the lawn at Anfield that magical evening in front of Barcelona, and Origi, along with Vinaldom, completely obliterated them. The red ones also suffered injuries, but were able to deal with it without too many problems along the way.
So here Liverpool and Klopp are standing on the eve of the English league opening, looking back proudly and face forward towards a new campaign with one goal in front of their eyes. Unlike Juventus, City or PSG, this is not the Champions League, but the Sweet Championship, celebrations of a different kind that have not been in Merseyside for three decades. Will the 30-year drought finally end? Not sure at all, but what is certain is that she will do everything to do it. With or without purchasing players.
