Liverpool’s 2015-2016 wasn’t “great” in any sense. They had their ups and downs; they finished 8th in the Premier League and lost both the finals they made – the Capital One Cup and the Europa League – against Manchester City and Sevilla, respectively.
Signing Jurgen Klopp as their manager, however, was their victory of the season. It’s possibly the best thing the club did this season. Klopp led Liverpool into two finals in his six months as manager with a team that he inherited and that just indicates the kind of manager he’s going to be for them in the upcoming seasons.
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Next season, in particular, is going to be very crucial and Liverpool will be a force to reckon with because of the genius German manager as he’ll get to have new players and his preferred team.
Liverpool had to focus on different competitions through the season but developed mightily as a team since the takeover of the German manager. Many players began flourishing under him- players like Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino, Emre Can and others.
They had one brilliant Europa League right until the final. It was that final, in fact, that summed up their season in itself. One-half showed them lethal and the other showed them in shambles.
In the other matches of the Europa League, they put out one of their best comeback performances against the German giant team Borussia Dortmund, which was Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s former club and eliminated them. The Reds also have a couple of great performances against Villareal ( at home) and against Manchester United away. They used Anfield as their fortress and the support of the Liverpool fans there and fought hard to secure that place in the final in Basel.
Although this season may be remembered as a massive underachievement, there have been some fantastic team performances and it just gives everyone a glimpse of what may be the scene for the club next season.
Here’s how the Liverpool players ranked this season overall.
Simon Mignolet – 6/10
Mignolet had his good moments once in a while but overall let the ball get past him way too many times and perhaps needs replacement, which challenges the sense of the five-year contract given to him this season.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10
Nathaniel Clyne was good for the most part of the season. Might have had a few bad games but overall didn’t really fail per se.
Kolo Toure – 8/10
Kolo Toure has been extremely professional and good with his performances. He’s bailed Liverpool out a lot of times and perhaps deserves another season.
Dejan Lovren - 8/10
Dejan Lovren has been one of the players to have really improved and performed quite well since Jurgen Klopp’s takeover.
Alberto Moreno - 5.5/10
Moreno had been a major liability at times which affected team results. He definitely lacked consistency and the ability to defend.
Emre Can - 8/10
Emre Can has mostly always anchored the midfield. He showed how he has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the league, and eventually the world.
James Milner – 8.5/10
Milner showed experience pays off when he did a great job adapting to his new place in Liverpool and undertook captaincy when required. The English midfielder did a brilliant job at it and showed extreme versatility in his role. Perhaps Liverpool’s best player in the season.
Adam Lallana - 7.5/10
Adam Lallana proved crucial at times for the squad by providing assists or scoring the goals. He improved under Klopp and displayed memorable performances in the later half of the season.
Philippe Coutinho - 7.5/10
Coutinho showed his magic through the course of the season and worked well with fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino.
Roberto Firmino – 7.5/10
Firmino had a quiet start to the season but showed his quality and capability, particularly under Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Daniel Sturridge - 7.5/10
Sturridge was injured for most of the season but when he returned, he was as lethal as always. Back in form, he made everyone remember why he’s Liverpool main striker.
Joe Allen - 8/10
Joe Allen’s presence in the midfield turned around a lot of games and made a lot of difference to Liverpool. He was one of the key midfielders for Liverpool this season.
Jordan Henderson – 7/10
The first season as Liverpool’s skipper, Jordan Henderson was not up to the mark when he played and then was hampered by a couple of injuries.
Divock Origi - 8/10
Origi was another player who showed what he was capable of by scoring important goals for the team.
Mamadou Sakho – 8/10
Sakho was like a driving force of Liverpool’s fight in most matches and played a major role in defence, only to have it hampered by his partial ban from football.
Lucas Leiva – 6/10
Lucas Leiva put in a few good performances at centre-back position, but offered less in the midfield and was average.
Martin Skrtel – 5/10
Martin Skrtel had a bad season but to everyone’s surprise worked well with Lucas at the back and was one of the players who just didn’t work well under Klopp’s reign.
Christian Benteke - 6/10
Benteke worked well as a substitute and failed almost every time he started. He, however, unfortunately, didn’t fit in into the Jurgen Klopp team.
Jordon Ibe – 5/10
Ibe lacked final product, made poor crosses, was average under Brendan Rodgers and although he didn’t play much under Klopp, he looked better and his potential was seen towards the end.
Danny Ings – 6/10
Danny Ings didn’t play for most of the season but was helpful when he did. He got injured just when he was doing well but he could fit in very well under Klopp
