Season predictions: Liverpool F.C.

Liverpool Football Club had been through a lot last season, but they did manage to get their hands on some silverware in the form of the Capital One Cup. This season is tougher than the last though, as the departures of Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Craig Bellamy, Charlie Adam, and Fabio Aurelio might hit Liverpool F.C. fans hard and there might not be any trophies this season. With the likes of Fabio Borini, Lucas Leiva, and Andy Carroll (on loan) not available in the team sheet at present, Liverpool have been struggling to pull off victories, and the manager Brendan Rogers is trying hard to make an impact.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers shouts from the touchline during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Wigan Athletic at Anfield on November 17, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

Brendan Rogers is depending on his young players to hold the consolation until reinforcements arrive next transfer window, and this is working quite well for Liverpool. Raheem Sterling, Suso Fernandez and Andre Wisdom have shown really good displays, and not only have they made the Club and the fans happy but also have caught the eyes of other big clubs.

Though Liverpool’s stats of 3 won, 6 drawn and 3 lost are not very impressive, considering the present situation, Liverpool fans should be content with only three losses. The manager plans to convert all his draws into wins by bringing in a few players during the next transfer window, which is going to be tough because not many options are available.

Here are my predictions about where Liverpool can end up this season:

Capital One Cup:

Expectation: Semi-Finals

Present: Eliminated

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Jordan Henderson and Sebastian Coates (L) of Liverpool walk off at the end of the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Swansea City at Anfield on October 31, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

The reason behind this failure is very disappointing, yet true: a lack of depth in the squad. As the manager rested a few of his senior players for the next League game, Liverpool played against Swansea City with what one can call a B-team, Brendan Rogers has been mulling over this problem, and has asked the owners Fenway Sports Group, to fund the improvement of the Liverpool squad. With only one striker, Luis Suarez, presently available for them, the team is indeed in a need of at least one more striker that could take the pressure off Suarez.

The Chairman, Tom Werner, has promised Liverpool Fans he will put a smile in their faces by the end of the transfer window.

Europa League:

Expectation: Quarter-Finals

Present: Group stage

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Luis Suarez of Liverpool in action during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between Liverpool and Udinese at Anfield on October 4, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

Seeing Liverpool F.C. in the quarter finals here should not be a difficult task for the Liverpool. The Group Stage ends in December and if Liverpool manage to enter the next round, there will definitely be new additions to the squad in January. The Round of 32 will start in mid-February, and hopefully till then the team should be good to go to the quarters. With the likes of Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini back from injury, this team might again become a stronger side to compete and see victories in all competitions.

FA Cup:

Expectation: Semi-Finals

Present: Will enter in the Third Round

This objective should not be tough if they are able to sign about four to five good players with the transfer budget and the cashing out on some under performing players. Liverpool play their first match of FA Cup in the first week of January. If they win this one, they will have more players coming in the squad before the next round. But Liverpool’s pockets aren’t very deep, and this seems to be a tricky task for Brendan Rogers. We will have to wait and see how the Manager makes his moves in the transfer market.

English Premier League:

Expectation: 7^th to 4^th

Present: 11^th

It is a competition where the stakes are always high, making it a doorway to the Champions League for the team competing in this league, and this target might look a little ambitious for the Liverpool side, but it’s certainly achievable. Though the Reds have had a bad start of the season, they are steadying things and are now undefeated in their last seven games in the Premier League.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates scoring the opening goal with team-mates Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson as Ali Al Habsi of Wigan Athletic looks dejected during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Wigan Athletic at Anfield on November 17, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

How the team performs depends on how players feel, and right now many seem to be positive and confident.

“We look as if we have not made a good start, but with winning on Saturday, we are not too far behind the top four.”

Liverpool’s Vice-captain Carragher to BBC Radio 5 Live.

Let’s see how Brendan Rogers pulls things off, and if all goes good, we might see this team in the Champions League in couple of years.