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da leao： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Liverpool won the Champions League back in June after hitting an agonisingly good 97 point tally in the Premier League, only to lose out to eventual champions, Manchester City.
On the chalkboard
Jurgen Klopp will have been delighted with his side’s European cup win, but the Premier League title eluded the Reds once more in what was the most impressive title-race of all time.
Liverpool’s wonderful season came on the back of some big summer spending in the transfer market that saw the likes of Fabinho and Alisson Becker arrive for hefty transfer fees, but they made all the difference as they accompanied Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita, also expensive signings, to Champions League glory.
While the Reds have shown to be quite aggressive in the transfer market in the previous three seasons, spending a combined £392m, this summer the Merserysiders have been very quiet and are yet to add to their squad.
Fresh signings needed
In previous seasons, we’ve seen clubs all too often have wonderful campaigns, fail to add efficiently to their squad in the summer, and ultimately watch their model and winning formula go stale. Manchester City and Chelsea, on two occasions each since 2012, have failed to retain their trophy, and have even failed to really sustain a title challenge as champions.
It’s not just about adding players for the sake of it, it’s adding players who really add a different dimension to your side. Pep Guardiola seems to have understood this, shown by the £60m spent on Riyad Mahrez last summer, who helped City finally retain a Premier League title.
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The Algerian’s arrival gave Guardiola a new tactic to adopt, in that his wingers could come inside and drive centrally, very different to the sorts of runs Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling were making on the left and right wing respectively.
Liverpool’s front three is pretty set, as is their midfield. Unless there’s a top youngster breaking through the ranks, Klopp should look into the market to strengthen his side. No, Liverpool aren’t defending a title, but trying to get anywhere near that 97-point tally is a huge task, and history suggests it will take a refresh in the squad to give the Reds an unpredictability they need to reach those heights once more.