Liverpool hasn’t been the same ever since the likes of Xabi Alonso and Rafa Benitez left. They struggled and failed to match the quality of football and players as other giant clubs in England’s top-flight football league. Several managers tried their luck, including Merseyside legend Kenny Dalglish who only managed to win one trophy, the Capital One Cup. How devastating it is for a club like Liverpool to win only one trophy in seven long years?
However, with the recruitment of the German Jurgen Klopp in 2015, things seem to be back on track for the football club once rated as the greatest team in the world. In his two seasons, Klopp has given Liverpool fans some hope for bringing the silverware back to Anfield. But is that actually achievable? I’ve taken a look at the premier league winner odds which I found through BetVictor and they have Liverpool at 14/1 to win the league. Although they’re not the favourites (Manchester City are the most likely winners currently), they certainly stand a good chance at winning.
The German manager recently said that the Kopites could dream of the Premier League title glory in the upcoming season. On the contrary, he does not want his team to have the same expectation going into the 2017/2018 season.
We all know how much of a change Jürgen Klopp brought in after his first full campaign with Liverpool. The Merseyside club managed to finish in the top four and gained a chance to qualify for the Champions League main round. This is only the third time Liverpool has secured a position in the top four since 2009.
Klopp now aims to further strengthen his squad to compete with top teams for major club trophies. In a recent pre-season conference in Hong Kong, Klopp stated “Can we win the title? I think the rules are that all teams are allowed to win the Premier League. So obviously it then seems to be possible. What gives me that confidence? The rules! It’s possible, but that’s it.”
Klopp’s men are now looking to build on their last season’s success. However, the manager will have to streamline things as now they will be competing in the Champions League as well.
Liverpool’s campaign in the 2017/2018 Premier League season will begin with Watford at Vicarage Road. The club has the busiest and scariest line up of fixtures in the initial months. After Watford, the club will play Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Anfield followed by a trip to the Etihad Stadium to play against Manchester City. Furthermore, Klopp’s first game against Mourinho’s Red Army will take place at Anfield on October 14th after which the team will play Tottenham at Wembley.
It’s important for Liverpool to have a strong squad with good depth as they will have to balance between domestic and European commitments in the upcoming season.
Jurgen Klopp will definitely be looking to secure a better place than fourth as well as make progress in other domestic and European competitions. However, this will not mean anything if the manager or club fails to land silverware this season. They have a good chance, but it all depends on how they cope with the pressure of playing more games than the last season.
Christmas will be a crucial period for the team. Followed by a poor start, this is when many title challengers scramble to the second half of the season. However, Liverpool has been handed an easy run. After playing the Gunners a few days before Christmas, Liverpool will be facing the likes of Swansea and Leicester at Anfield. The club’s first match in the new year will be a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley.
Overall, Jurgen Klopp’s team has been handed in a rather kind run for 2017/2018 Premier League season. However, they will face a tough away trip to Chelsea in the second last week of the upcoming season.
It is more than important for Klopp to bring in new signings. Hence, the club would expect the new star signing of Mo Salah to emerge from the wings and thrive on the Anfield stage. This is the only way the Reds can put a difficult start to the new campaign behind them.
It all depends on the type of signing Liverpool makes in the summer transfer window. They need to make additions to strengthen the team i.e. the defence line along with a good stable striker and a midfielder who can run and dictate the game on his own.
The club’s vice-captain, James Milner, has asked his team mates to ensure that all the efforts they have made last season are backed by this season’s performance.
To be on the right track, the team will have to get through the Champions League playoff clash to qualify for the UCL main round.
It will be a simple task for Liverpool to get through the playoff round considering the squad of both teams – Liverpool and its potential opponents. It will be a demoralising start to the campaign if they fail to qualify for the main round of Champions League. Furthermore, it would also affect Jurgen Klopp’s position after reaching so far ahead in such a short span of time.
We all know how badly the club and fans are waiting for the return of European nights at Anfield. It will also help the German manager in taking a step forward in his long-term project with the club.
Maintaining a balance is necessary as the club was labelled as a potential title winner by many pundits due to outstanding performance from the beginning. They were a real threat to top clubs from August till the start of 2017 as winners of big matches with an exceptional home record and leading goal scorers. However, all of this went to waste because of the injuries faced by several star players. Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho; all were injured which turned the season around for the Reds. This showed how weak Liverpool’s squad depth is. They failed to cope with a few injuries. Hence, in order to succeed in European competition, Klopp has to have additional players at his disposal.
With so much happening, Klopp has still managed to get the title clock ticking at Anfield. His primary task should be to bolster his squad and bring in quality players for all key areas. He needs a strong squad which can pose a challenge on all fronts. If he manages to secure a good summer arrival for the club, Liverpool can surely achieve the title for the 2017/2018 season.
