Progress both on and off the field for Liverpool in 12/13 season

Daniel Sturridge #15 celebrates completing his hat trick during the match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage on May 12, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

As the season draws to a climax, many punters and fans alike will analyse the season, look at where their clubs have performed in line with expectations, and at Liverpool, that analysis is well underway.

In what’s been a transitional year for the club, there have been many signs of progression as well as shortcomings and it’s that inconsistency which has thwarted Liverpool’s attempt for a rapid climb up the table.

On the field, results at home have improved compared to last season, the win % at Anfield this season has increased to 44% from 32%. Goals too have been witnessed a lot more this season, Liverpool scoring at a rate 1.89 goals per game, compared to just 1.05 goals per game last season.

Statistics aside, the football has also improved. There has been more fluidity and the philosophy that Brendan Rodgers has now embedded back into the first team is also seen in younger age groups, which has made the transition into the senior side easier as they know what’s expected of them in their individual roles. The emergence of Suso, Raheem Sterling et al are just some markers of the progress made in this transitional year.

The emergence of first-teamers has also been pleasing, public ‘tirades’ at players such as Jose Enrique, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson alongside private talks have reinvigorated the trio, with Henderson arguably making the step up paying off a considerable size of his £16million transfer fee. That has been down to Rodgers’ man management skills and they have saved the club £20million + in transfer fees for replacements.

Slight progress, but progress nonetheless on the field is a reason to be optimistic for Kopites across the globe, but off the field progress too. Questions have often been asked of the clubs hierarchy sanctioning moves such as Stewart Downing’s £20million move from Aston Villa, and the infamous £35million signature of Andy Carroll. But when January came around, it seems the club has learnt its lesson.

The installation of a new scouting team headed by Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter helped oversee the signings of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho. Not only have the players impressed with their ability to become key players with consummate ease, the price tag associated with both players is remarkable considering their abilities. £8.5 million for Coutinho, a guy who has lit up the Premier League since his arrival, is nothing short of a steal. He has 2 goals and 7 assists since joining, but the skill and intelligence he has shown has far outshone his price tag.

Sturridge too, whose transfer was questioned by many, has scored 11 goals in 16 games and supplied 4 assists for his team-mate. His contribution is crucial to this Liverpool side which lacks the unpredictable Luis Suarez.

To summarise, plenty of progress on and off the field for the Reds, but this summer is much more important, as the club need to build on the foundations they have built this past year.