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There is little doubt that the 2010-11 season was a landmark one for Liverpool or if you may, a season of two halves. While FSG brought an end to the tyranny of Hicks and Gillett, Manchester United knocked them off their perch. While Roy Hodgson brought unparalleled misery to the club, reinstatement of Kop Legend King Kenny infused unsurpassed positivity at Anfield. So, what does this season hold for the mighty Reds? Let’s take a look…
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The Season that was…
2010-11 season started with the appointment of LMA Manager of the Year, Roy Hodgson, as the Manager of Liverpool. The Kop was buzzing after the Englishman convinced Kop heroes Gerrard and Torres to stay and got Joe Cole on a free transfer. But the happiness was short-lived as glee turned into gloom with Liverpool suffering one of the worst possible starts to the season. Defeats to League Two side Northampton Town, relegation-contenders Wolves at Anfield and the pathetic display by the team under Hodgson brought the relations with the fans at an all-time low and the ambitious new owners were quick to show him the door and paved the way for- The Return of the King- Kenny Dalglish as the gaffer.
Boy, it worked! The ‘Pass and Move’ philosophy which had served the Reds so well during their glory years was back and so were the smiles at Anfield. Kenny’s Red Army demolished every hurdle in their path as new signings Carroll and Suarez, more than made up for the acrimonious exit of Kop hero, Fernando Torres. Anfield became the impenetrable fortress it was once and Liverpool eventually finished sixth, quite impressive when you consider the relegation dog-fight Hodgson would have led them into. So, while the Reds finished on a high, the agony of watching arch-rivals Manchester United picking up the record 19th league title must not have lost on them and expect them to be back with vengeance.
Transfers So Far…
It is a thinly-veiled fact that Liverpool’s squad last season was mediocre and the Reds have plugged some holes with quality signings in the form of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Alexander Doni. The Reds have also signed pre-contract with young stalwarts, Nacho and Bueno.
Here’s a brief overview of important transfer deals so far.
Players In
Jordan Henderson: Widely tipped to be Gerrard’s long-term successor by none-other-than Gerrard himself, this young £20million talent from Wearside has got what all it takes to be a success in the Premier League. Already having played an influential part in 2 seasons with Sunderland, this 20-year old’s exquisite range of passing makes him a deadly proposition for the Reds.
Charlie Adam: After a drawn-out affair with Blackpool over the acquisition of their talismanic skipper, King Kenny finally acquired his much-coveted target at a bargain price of £7.5m. The Scot’s delicious long-balls and his incisive set-pieces last season were a treat to watch and he could fill the void left by Xabi Alonso.
Stewart Downing: Many eyebrows were raised when Liverpool agreed a £20million fee with Aston Villa for their Player of the Year. But, he may well be the most important piece of business the Reds have accomplished this summer. Downing’s exquisite crossing coupled with his trickery and eye for goal makes him one of the most sought-after players in the league. His importance assumes astronomical proportions when you consider the Andy Carroll factor. The big Geordie must be licking his lips at the prospect of providing finishes to the astute service provided to him by Downing.
Alexander Doni: An experienced understudy to Pepe-Reina.
Players Out
Milan Jovanovic: The Serbian was sold to Anderlecht on a Bosman transfer after enduring an abysmal debut season with the Reds.
Pre-Season
If Liverpool’s defensive set-up needed an awakening, it got one. The Reds leaked 15 goals in 5 matches against not-so-illustrious opponents in their pre-season Asian tour and are still on the hunt for talented defenders. Though Liverpool bounced back with a 2-0 win against La Liga opponents Valencia, the Reds will need to bolster their defensive set-up, if they are to entertain any chances of securing a Champions League birth this season.
While it will take some time for the new guys to settle in, the camaraderie amongst the squad was heartening to see. The understanding between Downing and Carroll in the Valencia game must have satisfied Kenny and Comolli for a shrewd piece of business.
What to Expect
There is no doubt that the Reds will be firing on all cylinders once the season starts. For one, the Anfield faithful were hardly amused by Manchester United lifting the 19th title and will be expecting their team to set the ground running. To add to the burgeoning payload of hopes, the mere thought of a full-season under Kop Legend Kenny Dalglish transports an Anfield faithful into reverie.
The attacking triumvirate of Suarez, Carroll and Downing makes for a scary read for opposition defenders and the creative sparks from Gerrard, Adam and Aquilani may shatter the stingiest of defences. But as emphasized earlier, Liverpool will need defensive enforcements in order to dispel opposition threats. With the wily Scot at helm, Anfield is buzzing.
The Talisman
Luis Suarez
Who else? Such has been the immediate impact of the Uruguayan at Anfield, that he is already revered at Merseyside just after 6 months in a Red shirt. Suarez was the leader of King Kenny’s Red Revolution in the later part of the season and his audacious trickery against arch-rivals Manchester United that set up Kuyt’s opener in a demolition at Anfield will be etched in the memories of Kopites, for long. The South American’s street-cred and dogged determination has worked wonders and expect him to be fired up for more success after a historic title win at Copa America. His link-up play with new lad, Downing could be the driving force of the Reds’ attacking threat. Back El Pistolero to conjure silver in his first full-season at Anfield.
Possible Formations
Balance is the Key (4-2-3-1)
This formation will aid the Reds in using the attacking threat of their influential skipper Gerrard, which has been subdued for quite a while now due to his holding duties. Lucas will provide vital cover for the Reds’ defense with his incessant tackling and Charlie Adam can deliver his renowned, delicious diagonal balls to Downing and Suarez for quick break-throughs. The formation also allows Suarez and Downing to constantly swap their positions in accordance with the run of play. Jack Robinson can be used as a cover for the frail Aurelio while Suarez’s impressive baggage of trickery will aid him in the wide areas. Versatile Kuyt can play in any of the attacking positions if injuries prevail or against strong oppositions in place of Downing to cover for his defensive frailties. Can be used in variation with 4-3-3.
Going Retro (3-5-2)
Although Downing would struggle to fit in this formation, but Kenny may deploy his troops in this formation to nullify the opposition, predominantly dependent on the wide areas. As our readers will recall, the shrewd Scot nullified Chelsea‘s diamond last season with this set-up and it may work well against the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham. Lucas dons the anchor role here, with the back-three operating behind him. The wing-backs will have extra responsibilities of linking-up plays with their midfield apart from nullifying the opposition wingers. Will suit Jose Enrique if he signs for the Reds.
Realistic Targets
Champions League Spot
With an overall investment of over £100m since his arrival, Kenny will be expected to deliver a top-4 finish, at the very least. With the owners’ intent of bringing silverware to the club and the complementary bullions involved with the Holy Grail, King Kenny has his task cut out. The expectations are sky-high and so are the stakes involved. Will the Scot deliver? Well, that’s a million dollar question, my friends!
How Successful would Liverpool be this Season
Check out our other season previews:
Arsenal: Will The Gunners Finally Fire?
Manchester United: All set for a Treble
Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League Football to Return to the Lane?
Valencia CF: Time to Return to Old Glory?
Manchester City: A Dynasty to be Feared?
QPR: Underdogs or a Real Deal?
