The Liverpool Offside - The Liverpool Offside 2019-20 Season PreviewZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2019-08-08T09:00:00+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/205229472019-08-08T09:00:00+01:002019-08-08T09:00:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside 2019-20 Season Preview, Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success
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<img alt="Cardiff City v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uwYl2r6zSP5RLHdoerkqgXLimso=/0x0:4836x3224/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64951706/1144147359.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>In part four of our preview, we asked the staff what they need to see to consider the upcoming season a success.</p> <h2 id="LhPE5h">Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success</h2>
<p id="Ul8Pu6">From earning 97-points but finishing runners-up to a quick corner to help secure a sixth European Cup, football is unpredictable. So here in August, it may be impossible to say where <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> will be in May. We wanted to know, though, what the staff of The Liverpool Offside think is the bare minimum to call 2019-20 a success—and what order of importance they would give to the competitions.</p>
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<h2 id="tzZU3m">Steph</h2>
<p id="iY1hYq">This is a hard question, because of course every season you want to see an improvement in the squad, on the pitch, in the results. But how do you improve on last season? The answer has to be domestically. Liverpool came so close to winning that coveted league title last time around. This season feels like it will only be a success if we win it. Not compete for it—that was last season. We need to win it.</p>
<p id="SRUVMT">That’s a tall order, especially when you consider that last season they only lost one game and still came in second. But winners find a way to push through the obstacles, and this group is a team of winners. Hopefully we see them reach that pinnacle this time around.</p>
<p id="UkPtJh">I’m also person who cares a bit more for the domestic cups than most. The last two seasons have been disappointing on that front, and I would love to see us back in the thick of it this year, if only so that more players get a chance for some minutes. I don’t rank them higher than the league or Europe, but the domestic cups aren’t throwaway matches for me either. A team like Liverpool should be making it deep into both domestic cup competitions. </p>
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<h2 id="uFrntk">Gabe</h2>
<p id="0zIkzD">Success is both a blessing and a curse. Last season was an absolute blast—even the sphincter-clench inducing moments. Klopp and co. finally brought Liverpool back to European glory—and 11 millimetres away from claiming the Premier League title. Even coming in second with that many points was quite the accomplishment. Repeating that will be tough. For me, though, the priority is the league.</p>
<p id="uwNorR"><a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> is unquestionably the most talented team from top to bottom, so matching their points haul during the long slog of the season will be extremely tough, but we know it can be done. Honestly, keeping the team in the race to the end will be an accomplishment, as would maintaining the gap between us and Spurs.</p>
<p id="IZkBrn">I really don’t care much about the domestic cups (until Liverpool are actually playing, and then of course they must win every game), so would love to see those as a chance to get the younger players a couple of games. In Europe, getting to the semifinals would be very solid, and of course beating <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> next week is something that should happen. Beyond that, I’m honestly not sure what to think about the Club <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> coming during an already hectic December as well as being played in Qatar. It would be a nice feather in the cap, I guess. If forced to pick I’d say my order of priority is league, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>, that Club World Cup, then the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> and League Cup.</p>
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<h2 id="QOp7yu">Matt</h2>
<p id="Gf4JqB">The bare minimum to reach is the same level Liverpool reached last season in the Premier League along with at least a solid run to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Winning that European Cup two seasons in a row would be wonderful but it shouldn’t be a measure of success for me.</p>
<p id="EQ0No1">Klopp has a team that can win the league next season but it’s a damn hard thing to do what with Manchester City so stacked and all the other top six clubs spending money this summer. Letting another club kick us down into third or worse would be bad. I don’t want to say the word ‘failure,’ but you know I’m thinking it—second I could understand, but third would be a step back.</p>
<p id="Egnlpt">I’m not invested as much in the domestic cups. Liverpool winning is always something to celebrate, but dropping out of domestic tournaments never leaves me sad for very long. Witness the magic of my disinterest in the FA Cup. </p>
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<h2 id="imcCAv">AJ</h2>
<p id="7cq3qx">We’re going to win the league. I really believe that. Outside of that, I’d love us to defend the Champions League and I think we have the personnel and management to do just that. At the very least, get us back as far as the semi-finals. As for domestic cups, I would love to bring home the FA Cup this season. So, for me, it’s PL>CL>FA>everything else.</p>
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<h2 id="3gX0f1">Mark</h2>
<p id="fJXfZJ">Gotta win a major trophy. And not the FA Cup or Energy Drink Cup. CL or League. That’s it. That’s a successful season. It’s that simple.</p>
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<h2 id="ZYhiFS">Jordan</h2>
<p id="1XZ2V2">I think last season did quite a bit of reorganizing to what a lot of us consider success. Any other season, coming in second would be heartbreak, but second was worth celebrating last season—and not just because <em>we made it</em> back into the best in England conversation but that we made it there in the best fashion we could against opponents (or a singular opponent) that have dark magic and money on their side. Not to mention we won the European Cup over literally the best teams in every other major league. </p>
<p id="XgEYMZ">If we fall short of a similar level of success this year, I’m not sure how it’ll feel. Hopefully not terrible. We do have six trophies to play for this time around, almost double what we played for last season, and with that comes more chances to win—and of course more chances to fail. I’d really like us to win one of the domestic cups just because it’s been so long, but how hard it is to win them is just another reason why English football is so competitive. We need to be able to prove ourselves in our own country, though, and with the gap reaching 30 years at this point, at the end of the day all efforts really do need to be on the League.</p>
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<h2 id="EquU1Q">Audun</h2>
<p id="fVZAHX">I know I get boring with these every year, but we’re a 90+ point team at this point, and I expect us to end up in that range, and that may or may not be enough to win us the title. Similarly, we’re good enough to get out of the group stage of the Champions League regardless of who UEFA throws at us, so the knockout stages are expected—at which point it becomes a bit of a lottery. That said, Jürgen Klopp’s ridiculous run of results in two-tie competition indicates we’re likely to do well when we get to that stage, so I understand fans who set their expectations at the semi-finals or whatever.</p>
<p id="DZvKEl">At any rate, trophies come down to so many factors out of the team’s control that I simply want them to play up to their potential; play good, entertaining football; and then the chips fall where they may with regards to silverware.</p>
<p id="tXA8lm">As you’ve noticed, domestic cup comps have not even come up, which indicate how highly I rate them. It’s PL>CL>CWC>FA>LC>SC for me.</p>
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<h2 id="PtHj7p">Noel</h2>
<p id="ihBiK2">Look, I know you can’t ever reasonably say anything less than the title would make the season a failure, and that’s doubly the case when you’re facing off against the public relations wing of a human rights flaunting petrostate. So I’m not going to say that. I’m not even going to say we need to match last season’s points haul. But I do think we need to <em>perform</em> at least as well as we did last year, and that that should get us to at least 90 points. And if we do that, well, the rest is up to the football gods and maybe breaking the drought on the three decade mark makes for a good enough story for them to grant it.</p>
<p id="eK2NzM">Beyond that, this is a group that’s good enough it should pick up one of the three major (or two and the next best) pieces of silverware on offer—meaning either the league, or the Champions League, or failing that at the very least the FA Cup while coming close in the others.</p>
<p id="23x2Oy">Live up to last season’s league standard and win one of those and hopefully play some exciting football along the way and I’ll be happy. I’ve said it before and I’ll stick to it, this year the clear priority is the Premier League, then the Champions League, then the FA Cup followed by the Club World Cup (hey, it’s two games against interesting opponents and we’re in it for winning something), the Super Cup (again, we’re in it for winning and it’s in Istanbul so why not), then the League Cup (play all the kids), and finally the now-past Community Shield (a glorified friendly we qualified for by coming second).</p>
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<h2 id="3j8OS5">Tito </h2>
<p id="T7dWtl">I’m with Audun on this one: you can’t expect much more from squad who lifted a Champions League trophy and lost a single match in the league to the second-best team in the world. Conversely, it’s hard to expect much less, either.</p>
<p id="RrVCPr">Which means that for me, priorities and the definition of success in meeting those priorities will be found in improving the quality of individual and team performances: locking down a first choice midfield possessing a mix of creativity, goals, ball retention and defensive steel; defensive progression from Trent Alexander-Arnold to take away arguably the one defensive weak point; managing Rhian Brewster’s development; the emergence of a consistent fourth attacking option to ensure that the drop-off after the front three is less steep.</p>
<p id="YtpBT1">Show progress in these areas while maintaining the vitality of front three and the current defensive solidity, and I have to believe the result we’re all desperately waiting for <em>will </em>come.</p>
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<h2 id="2rCgY2">In this Series</h2>
<h4 id="w55QtJ">Monday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/5/20754589/liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-epl-title-hopefuls-defending-champions-league-klopp-edwards">Part One: Title Hopefuls</a><br>Tuesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/6/20756597/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-epl-season-preview-no-summer-transfers-squad-depth-concerns">Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth</a><br>Wednesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/7/20758298/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-player-of-the-season-predictions-naby-keita-joe-gomez">Part Three: Player Predictions</a><br>Thursday — Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success</h4>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/8/20762427/liverpool-2019-20-season-preview-season-priorities-defining-success-premier-league-champions-leagueNoel ChomynepicskylineCruyff Turns AnonymousMatt WoodAJ JovenMark KastnerJordan J. KeebleAudun ManumO.T. Obaisi2019-08-07T18:00:00+01:002019-08-07T18:00:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside Great De-Lurking, 2019-20 Edition—Fandom is Family
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<img alt="Liverpool v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Europa League Quarter Final: Second Leg" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8a1T6bKjaoGiEyXgV3TmfUMSaSE=/510x638:4361x3205/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64930733/521185950.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We are Liverpool, and so are you. We hope you’ll join us for the coming season.</p> <p id="p7FvI4">As we get ready for another season to kick off, it’s a good time to revisit what it means to be a fan. And not just any fan, but a <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> fan. Liverpool fans have revelled in the peaks of domestic and European glory with Bob Paisley, Bill Shankley, Kenny Danglish, Rafa Benitez, and now the incomparable Jürgen Klopp. Many of us helped each other through the very low lows of the Hicks and Gillett era. Some have helped their fellow fans and supporters through <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2019/4/15/18310675/liverpool-anfield-hillsborough-justice-for-the-96-jft96-hawthorne-30th-anniversary">far worse</a>.</p>
<p id="sXo1hJ">Following a Premier League club for fans scattered around the globe can mean very early mornings and very late nights searching for dodgy streams (or so we’ve heard), and even at the best of times it can all end up being very, very stressful, watching eleven players kick a ball about and knowing that the result can make or break our day, our weekend, our week. So why do we put ourselves through the wringer?</p>
<p id="zixlhw">For some, it’s a family affair, born into the fandom and raised in the culture. I, like many other international fans, came into it as a solo fan. When I was young, a family friend gave me a Liverpool shirt, a Justice for the 96 shirt. I wore it pretty much every day. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but I loved the Liverbirds and the flames that were on it. There wasn’t professional soccer in the United States at the time, and there was no real way to watch anything outside the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>. But as I got older, I kept an eye out for Liverpool. In college, I finally was able watch a young Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen play the odd Champion’s League game.</p>
<p id="PI31xO">By grad school, I went in whole hog. I started by watching gamecasts on my own in the back of a computer lab. I’ll never forget the anxiety of staring at the screen waiting for the next update to pop up, but those brief moments of euphoria and silent celebrations after seeing Fernando Torres had scored again made it worth the while. </p>
<p id="jYWUHw">After some time, I began to seek out other fans, both in person and online. I craved the feeling of community. I wanted to be part of the global chorus singing You’ll Never Walk Alone at kickoff. Through interactions with other fans, I got much more than I bargained for. I began to understand what it really meant to be a Liverpool fan. I got schooled on what it meant to be Scouse, not English. I began to understand what Bill Shankly meant when he talked about socialism. I was educated by peers in the community about the Hillsborough disaster and the lasting damages that are still felt to this day. After time, that community began to be family. Like family, we joke, we bicker, we get excited about life events. We lift each other up. This is the ethos of YNWA.</p>
<p id="T5S3az">This feeling of what it meant to be a fan, and what YNWA really meant, was driven home a year-and-a-half ago. One of our TLO community members, Garp’s Brother, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/5/21/17375764/miracle-of-kiev-liverpool-champions-league-final-2018-personal-meaning-help-difficult-time-ynwa">wrote a moving piece</a> about how much the Liverpool season and the TLO community was helping him as he struggled with cancer treatments. It was raw, and it was beautiful. It struck me that even though we may not know what others may be going through, being kind and open could provide comfort to someone, even online.</p>
<p id="79vMwj">Garp’s Brother was able to see his daughter graduate from high school, and see Liverpool make it to the finals of the 2017-18 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>. He was excited for the start of last season and the hope that came with it. Unfortunately, he passed away last August. He did not get to see another season, another final, and <span>Jordan Henderson</span> lifting a sixth European Cup. He is still with us though; still in our memories. His fandom inspires me, reminds me to be positive, and to help others in our community when I can. In his memory, I donated last year to <a href="https://www.alderheycharity.org/">Alder Hey Children’s Hospital</a>. In his spirit, I will do so again this year. And I would encourage all of you to find some way, however small, to lift up others in our community. In our family. To me, this is what it means to be a Liverpool fan.</p>
<p id="aAfaiW">Now we want to hear from you. Whether you’re been an active commenter or usually just read the articles, and whether you’ve been watching the Reds for decades or only just discovered them over this past summer, we’d love to have you as part of the community and for you to share with us what being a Liverpool fan means to you—and of course, feel free to share as much or little as you’re comfortable doing.</p>
<p id="ZRGMYf"><strong>Name: </strong><br><strong>Age:</strong><br><strong>Where you are from:</strong><br><strong>Social Media Handle(s): </strong><br><strong>How and when you became a fan or what it means to you:</strong><br><strong>Something you’d encourage others to support (an organization, concept, or etc.):</strong> </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2019/8/7/20750482/liverpool-new-fan-introductions-community-epl-2019-2020-news-match-coverageCruyff Turns Anonymous2019-08-07T14:00:00+01:002019-08-07T14:00:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside 2019-20 Season Preview, Part Three: Player Predictions
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<img alt="Liverpool v Man City - FA Community Shield" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k-JjJlJ6MVGG2g0Pegcy1dX6vbQ=/39x102:3854x2645/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64928686/1159850627.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Ahead of the 2019-20 season, we asked the staff of TLO who they think will stand out—and who might struggle.</p> <h2 id="wcjf0v">Part Three: Player Predictions</h2>
<p id="w6MbNk">Even without major signings, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> head into 2019-20 with their strongest squad in the Premier League era, one boasting arguably the league’s top goalkeeper, its top fullbacks on both sides, and its best pair of wingers—along with the world’s best centre half. In amongst all that talent, we wanted to know who The Liverpool Offside staff think will stand out—and who they think might fail to meet expectations.</p>
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<h2 id="guxQ6f">Noel</h2>
<p id="p46ICO">These days, it feels a bit as though at least half of Liverpool’s starting eleven can make a case for being world class, so there are a lot of obvious potential standouts to choose from. Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Mo Salah. They’re all going to be up there for player of the season. Again. Along with the likes of Firmino and Mané and Robertson. I’m picking Naby Keïta, though. Because it’s been two years Liverpool fans have been waiting on him, and I think a lot of people have started to forget—or maybe never really were in on—just how good he was leading up to the summer Liverpool signed him.</p>
<p id="FWut8V">He was the best midfielder in the Bundesliga before Liverpool did that delayed deal with Red Bull Leipzig. His numbers on the ball looked like Adreas Iniesta in his prime and his numbers off it looked like N’Golo Kante. If he can stay fit—which, given his injury history before last season, he really should be able to—and having now had a year to get adjusted, I’m expecting him to end the season firmly in that world class category. On the other side, though—and speaking of players with injury histories—I’m a touch worried <span>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</span> is going to struggle to rediscover his pre-injury form.</p>
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<h2 id="5bF7lY">Tito</h2>
<p id="OOCSmo">It could be a sentiment grounded more in hope than reason, but this is going to be the season that Naby Keïta shows everyone what the fuss was all about. Klopp recently revealed that the ex-RB Leipzig dynamo had arrived at Anfield last summer carrying an injury, which of course led to further knocks dispersed throughout the season to effectively rob the Guinean of crucial momentum. However, flashes of true, maybe even elite, quality shone through in many of his subdued displays last campaign. How Keïta fits alongside the returning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain—with whom he shares some stylistic similarities—and Fabinho in what is presumably the first choice midfield will be fascinating to observe. That challenge, along with the process of Klopp unlocking the potential of a player who embodies the idea of a “box-to-box” midfielder more than any Red since arguably peak Steven Gerrard, could be the crucial answer to the question of how one improves a 97-point <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>-winning squad. </p>
<p id="2wd0LZ">Elsewhere, I suspect that Joël Matip might keep his place ahead of <span>Joe Gomez</span> as first choice partner to Virgil Van Dijk. It is notable that, save for a slight adjustment wobble upon being suddenly thrust back into the starting lineup, the dropoff in defensive performance from Gomez to Matip following the young Englishman’s injury in December was virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, the Cameroonian is decidedly more progressive and comfortable on the ball than Gomez, willing to attempt searching forward passes and step up into midfield with the ball when play is stagnant, all traits that dovetail well with Van Dijk’s preference to hang back as the last man. Coupled with Gomez’s discouraging injury record and current position as second in the right back depth chart due to the injury to Nathanial Clyne could suggest a brief plateau to the 22-year-old’s upward trajectory this season.</p>
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<h2 id="GFr8HG">Steph</h2>
<p id="94Gtiv">Can we all just stop and say a prayer to the deity or our choice for the sustained health and fitness of Joe Gomez? For years, Gomez has been on the precipice of greatness but has been hindered by an inability to make it through a season without a major injury setback. It’s clear that Klopp sees him as Van Dijk’s ideal partner, and we got a taste of how good the duo looked together in the first half of last season. If he can remain fit, we may be ending the season saying that Liverpool have the world’s <em>two</em> best center-backs.</p>
<p id="24dQGx">As for disappointments, I think that we might have already hit the ceiling with Joel Matip. I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but I believe the best that we can expect from him is to stay exactly the same, a capable, six or seven out of ten defender.</p>
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<h2 id="xw452O">Gabe</h2>
<p id="AZ8Nfr">It’s kind of crazy to think about players like Sadio Mané and <span>Roberto Firmino</span> still being underrated outside of Liverpool (and I hope it stays this way). Naby Keïta and his immense potential, though, is the one I expect to make a huge jump and become a household name. He’s had a year to get settled, and we saw flashes of his pressing and creativity on the ball at the end of last season. I just love watching the way he just floats past challenges, always with his head up looking for the next angle or pass. I think he provides that missing piece of the midfield that will really jumpstart the attack and decrease the reliance on the fullbacks.</p>
<p id="LWsGwJ">As for who fails to meet expectations, I’ll go with <span>Dejan Lovren</span> failing to meet his own lofty expectations as Best Defender In The World™. He’s a player who might well start on most teams, but he’s currently fourth on the depth chart for Jürgen. Joe Gomez is a legitimate world class talent if he can stay healthy, and Joel Matip saw an incredible run of form during the home stretch last season, and where does that leave Dejan? Hopefully being bezzies with Mo is enough to keep him content.</p>
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<h2 id="Ki4XhO">Matt</h2>
<p id="gUffGv">In a world where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can stay fit for the season and continuously build on positive performances, I think we could see something special from him. Naby Keïta is the same. He’s bound to contribute more to the first team this season given his injury and settling issues last time out. But I haven’t got any lofty expectations for him in my head. I think he’ll do well, I’m just predicting Ox will be the player everyone gets excited about this year outside of the front three. That’s my prerogative. </p>
<p id="pFQ0lB">I can’t say that I think there will be a big underachiever. I don’t expect <span>Adam Lallana</span> to do more than support the first team but that’s a fairly common opinion. Dejan Lovren always seems to play better than expected because we expect him to make costly mistakes. And I expect that to continue. </p>
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<h2 id="oyUVca">Zach</h2>
<p id="edNKWM">In thinking about the players that have the biggest upside, it’s hard to look past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keïta. Starting with Trent, I know what you’re thinking: “But Zach, he already set a record for most assists by a defender!” Yup. I made the <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2018/8/5/17652888/liverpool-premier-league-champions-league-2018-19-season-preview-squad-depth-quality">mistake of doubting our fullbacks last year</a>, a mistake I’m not keen on making again. I think he could be even better this year, as evidenced by his incredible final stretch of the season. Of his 12 Premier League assists, 9 (NINE!) of came in the last 11 matches, including his hat trick of assists against Watford. And that’s without getting into his role in the heroics against Barcelona. Somehow he’s still just 20 years old. With another year of experience, another year of Klopp tutelage, we could see improvements on both sides of the ball. </p>
<p id="cWIoch">Keïta, on the other hand, is almost self-explanatory. His talent, and the role that he can play in a Jürgen Klopp set up, is clear for the world to see. Give him a clean bill of health, and a consistent run of games, and he will terrify opponents. </p>
<p id="ppEMV6">As for players that likely won’t live up to their billing, I hate to say it for the man who 100% needs a statue outside of Anfield, but it’s Divock Origi. It’s hard to think of a bit-part player having a bigger impact over one season than Big Divock. Beating <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> in the best way the Ev has ever been beaten. Keeping Liverpool in the title race against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>. Starting and finishing the comeback against Barcelona. And of course, wrapping up the European Cup. And it’s these huge moments which will shade whatever he does this season. We already know he’s not good enough to push our front three for a starting spot, and he’ll face competition for time with up-and-comer Rhian Brewster. This is all to say that anything we can reasonably expect from him will likely fail to live up to the heights he hit last year. </p>
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<h2 id="2rIPBT">Ritika</h2>
<p id="ZTu7Tv">My Naby Keïta shrine needs new videos to go in it. I think it’s going to get it this season. I’m also incredibly excited about what we’re going to see in the Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk partnership. Gomez looks fit. Virgil continues to be perfect. We’re about to see the best CB pair in the league step out onto the field in red. </p>
<p id="uHU1JU">I don’t want to think about whose seasons are going to fall short because it’s a depressing enough world we live in without having to picture Joel Matip’s sad face.</p>
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<h2 id="VjPxNT">AJ</h2>
<p id="WVhCMh">As has been said, this squad is so stacked with players that we could reasonably argue are world class, that it’s a bit of a grab bag. Pick one, and you’re likely to land on a player who will impress. That being said, and it’s likely no surprise, my pick for player most likely to impress is Naby <em>The Admiral</em> Keita (no, I will not stop trying to make that happen). I love Naby. I love the idea of a do-it-all, super classy midfield general. I love the idea of a guy with so many tools in his locker that feeding him the ball and letting him go is the only thing that makes sense. I love the idea of a Pocket Prince doing big things. In short, I love the idea of Naby Keïta.</p>
<p id="7PS5EF">Now, he’s had a rough go of it, but we all saw that he’d finally started to sort out the system and his role right before being hit by the injury bug. I expect he’s going to pick up where he left off, though, and that we’ll soon (hopefully) be singing songs to him. Perhaps a sea shanty. Or one to the tune of In the Navy cause, c’mon, that’d be too perfect.</p>
<p id="J52aFv">As for more likely to disappoint, I think it’s Rhian Brewster, though not for the reasons you think. I am an avowed fan of Brewster who (in the last one of these roundtables, in fact) am super excited to see what he can bring.</p>
<p id="flXukK">But given Klopp’s own words, I just sense that we won’t see that much of the young forward. At least, not enough to merit all of the internal excitement. So, I guess, this is me trying to temper that excitement and be realistic in my expectations. Cause, right now, my mind’s got him as a cross between Ibra and Mbappe and that’s not fair at all.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Rvhyrv">
<h2 id="7p7wcp">Mark</h2>
<p id="nRAs99">I think this is a make it or break it type season for two Liverpool players in particular: Naby Keïta and Joe Gomez. Both have had flashes of world class talent, but both have failed to be consistent contributors to the starting XI due to various injuries. They also might have the highest ceilings in terms of potential out of anyone in the team. I’m expecting big things from those two this season.</p>
<p id="9IKQzd">Keïta brings something to the middle of the pitch that no one else in the squad can bring. His tenacity to win the ball back and progress up the field is a joy to watch when it’s on. I think it’s taken him a little longer to adapt to England than we expected, but 2019-20 should be the year of Naby. </p>
<p id="pfKtDY">Gomez, on the other hand, has been around a while. He’s just had rotten luck with serious injuries. Gomez needs to stay fit to reach his potential. It’s really that simple. If he can stay healthy, I fully expect him and Virgil van Dijk to create the best CB pairing in the country, and maybe even on the continent.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="DMdHjo">
<h2 id="2rCgY2">In this Series</h2>
<h4 id="w55QtJ">Monday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/5/20754589/liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-epl-title-hopefuls-defending-champions-league-klopp-edwards">Part One: Title Hopefuls</a><br>Tuesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/6/20756597/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-epl-season-preview-no-summer-transfers-squad-depth-concerns">Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth</a><br>Wednesday — Part Three: Player Predictions<br>Thursday — Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success</h4>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/7/20758298/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-player-of-the-season-predictions-naby-keita-joe-gomezNoel ChomynO.T. ObaisiepicskylineCruyff Turns AnonymousMatt WoodZachary MarxrbhaskerAJ JovenMark Kastner2019-08-07T03:00:00+01:002019-08-07T03:00:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside’s 2019-20 Season Predictions
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<img alt="Liverpool v Manchester City - FA Community Shield" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o1EMD-C5WUMDnvuCqsYyVAdtDp8=/1x0:3700x2466/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64927342/1159739818.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the football set to kick off, the TLO staff take their shot at predicting how the season will go—and we want your take, too.</p> <p id="bO9vJI">Roll on, Friday! A new season is upon us, and we here at The <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> Offside enjoy the yearly ritual of embarrassing ourselves by making predictions about the season that are invariably proven false come May. Did you correctly guess that Liverpool would win the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> last season? Not to brag, but <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/10/17672484/2018-19-premier-league-champions-league-predictions-liverpool-vote-final-table">Steph</a> did. </p>
<p id="kAcvQ5">We’ll show you what the TLO staff think about this coming season, and then we want to know your predictions.</p>
<h2 id="sVRMKx"><strong>Noel</strong></h2>
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<p id="1j6Gzp"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>Liverpool, <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>, Tottenham, <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>, Wolverhampton, <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>, <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a><br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a>, <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>, Norwich<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> Mo Salah<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> Manchester City<br><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup"><strong>FA Cup</strong></a><strong> winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Arsenal<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Atletico Madrid<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>Win the FA Cup thanks to finally getting a few decent draws, out in the semis of the League Cup and Champions League (to the eventual winners) as they focus on the EPL.</p>
<h2 id="MzOgsX"><strong>AJ</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="swPFof">
<p id="JZXaqs"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>Liverpool, City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Wolves, Chelsea, Everton, United<br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> Bournemouth, Brighton, Newcastle<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> Sadiooooooooo<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> City<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> IDK...Sevilla?<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Liverpoooooolllll<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>We notch the treble by winning the CL, PL, and FA Cup ayyyyyyyyyyyyy</p>
<h2 id="T4rJ1K"><strong>JJ</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="u6Kt4W">
<p id="WsG4vR"><strong>Top eight in order:</strong> Liverpool, City, United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Wolves, Leicester<br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/sheffield-united">Sheffield United</a>, Newcastle, Aston Villa<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> <span>Mohamed Salah</span>, <span>Sadio Mane</span>, Aguero tie<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> City<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Arsenal? Sure, okay. <br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> LIVERPOOL. WHY NOT. GO BIG OR GO HOME. <br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>We’re going to do the treble like my dreams indicate (I wish I had tarot cards for this). We may not have the depth to win the League Cup, but apparently I think we have the depth for the League and the Champions League and maybe the FA Cup as well because YOLO. </p>
<h2 id="vAvK20"><strong>Gabe</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="SCu0om">
<p id="I70azi"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs, Arsenal, Wolves, Chelsea, Manchester United, <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a><br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> Newcastle, Sheffield United, Manchester Unit...err...Brighton<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> One Year Wonder Mo Salah<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> Spurs<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Manchester City<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Arsenal<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>Round of 16 - league cup, Quarterfinal - FA cup, Semifinals - Champions League</p>
<h2 id="HybekY"><strong>Ritika</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Fq24rX">
<p id="c4iALf"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, United, Wolves, Leicester<br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> Brighton, Newcastle, …Norwich? Sorry, Norwich.<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> Mo. It has to be Mo.<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> City<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Someone Spanish. Sevilla? Let’s go Sevilla.<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Liverpool<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>Champions League victory, but just shy of the Premier League. I’m sorry. </p>
<h2 id="ab69sh"><strong>Mark</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="VJDz0T">
<p id="1wXZTW"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester City, Wolves<br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> Newcastle, Sheffield United, Brighton<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> Salah<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> City<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Manchester City<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Roma<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Real Madrid<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>League Cup and FA Cup: First round exits, European Cup: Semifinals</p>
<h2 id="YrVbBk"><strong>Steph</strong></h2>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="cihCyJ">
<p id="xGMbYk"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong>Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Wolves, Everton<br><strong>Three relegated teams:</strong> Sheffield United, Brighton, Newcastle<br><strong>Premier League top scorer:</strong> Sadio Mane<br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong> Tottenham<br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong> Manchester City<br><strong>Europa League winner:</strong> Atletico Madrid<br><strong>Champions League winner:</strong> Liverpool!<br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe: </strong>League Cup - early exit, FA Cup - semi-final, Champions League - winner</p>
<p id="wJce1i">And if you want to get more in-depth, give us your predictions and any other thoughts you might have about the coming season in the comments!</p>
<p id="crHWrY"><strong>Top eight in order: </strong><br><strong>Three relegated teams: </strong><br><strong>Premier League top scorer: </strong><br><strong>League Cup winner:</strong><br><strong>FA Cup winner:</strong><br><strong>Europa League winner: </strong><br><strong>Champions League winner: </strong><br><strong>Liverpool in the domestic cups and Europe:</strong></p>
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<h1 id="7rEZRy"></h1>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2019/8/7/20757938/liverpool-2019-20-season-premier-league-champions-league-fa-cup-prediction-vote-final-tableepicskylineNoel ChomynJordan J. KeebleCruyff Turns AnonymousMark KastnerAJ Jovenrbhasker2019-08-06T15:30:00+01:002019-08-06T15:30:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside 2019-20 Season Preview, Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth
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<img alt="Liverpool Training &amp; Press Conference" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rJeinWVHvBnVxiu6OfhBcM26TA4=/9x95:3665x2532/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64920971/1162856031.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Liverpool’s lack of activity in the transfer market has been a major talking point. We wanted to take a closer look at it.</p> <h2 id="jcJsL3">Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth</h2>
<p id="KW4zjA">Much to the dismay of many fans, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> have signed no clear first team outfield players this summer. Yet it would have always been a tough task, to try to improve on a squad as good as this—a squad that, starter for starter, is arguably a match for any other in Europe. So we wanted to know how the staff of The Liverpool Offside felt about it—and about that lack of signings.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="53BzyK">
<h2 id="x2iLpg">Mark</h2>
<p id="rZxIFG">I sympathize with the anxiety many fans have around transfers this summer, and I think most of my own anxiety comes from seeing Liverpool come so close so many times—and then there’s an inevitable falling away. Players leave, the manager leaves, the house built on sand crumbles. It’s the Liverpool way. </p>
<p id="vDk98r">Having said that, I really think this team is the exception to that typical Liverpool narrative. No one of consequence has left. Important players are returning from injuries. Youth players are coming through the ranks to invigorate the squad. I think they could definitely use a left sided attacker and a left back, but those are by no means necessities for the squad to push on and challenge on all fronts. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2buDVK">
<h2 id="2QIzvy">Jordan</h2>
<p id="5It6lL">We have plenty of spaces to add depth to. Fullback, wingers, strikers. All could use proven quality players to shore up the proven and talented players we have. Putting the pressure on the kids that we have in those positions to come good if—or when—someone gets injured and taken out for a spell is a lot to ask of tiny babies. We got lucky with Trent Alexander-Arnold, how lucky are we hoping to be to get lucky a second or even third time? </p>
<p id="GfDCvI">But I will say that everyone involved certainly seems to believe we have a strong squad, and a strong enough squad that we don’t need to add to, are that they’re all more involved with the team and paid way more than I am, so what do I know, honestly? It comes down to how much trust we are willing to put into Klopp & Co at this point in the venture.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ToDpPQ">
<h2 id="SnTbQt">Audun</h2>
<p id="PlRDSe">We’re thin in attack and at fullback. That’s not really debatable. It may or may not come back to bite us, but if it does, the responsibility will fall on the manager and recruitment team, not on the Club <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> or the FA for fixture congestion or whatever. We know those games are coming—it’s up to us to be prepared for them.</p>
<p id="8JqOZd">I get the argument that it’s difficult to improve the squad, to which I argue that while it’s tough to improve the <em>starting XI</em>, adding players to a depth chart with open slots in it is not actually that tricky. Management clearly disagrees, but in my opinion, there are enough options out there that you don’t need to rely on 2019 <span>James Milner</span> as your first fullback option, but we’ll find out by next summer how the gamble turns out.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="IXfXL2">
<h2 id="4fqpKP">Noel</h2>
<p id="6ueaPb">I honestly go back and forth on this one. Liverpool just won the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> and got 97 points in the league. They’re as desirable a destination as they’ve been in three decades, and surely now is the time to capitalise on it and bring in a few big signings—to strike while the iron is hot and all that.</p>
<p id="QZbx8E">And yet, on paper, you look at the current squad and it’s not clear where Jürgen Klopp and Mike Edwards are realistically meant to be improving it—at least in a real life, <em>not-playing-FIFA</em> sort of way. You can’t improve the front three, and how do you convince a world class star to sit on the bench behind them? Then, if you buy into the Brewster hype—and based on pre-season I think I’m willing to—you’ve already got three viable depth options. Midfield’s much the same, with at least two viable starters at every position, and Liverpool probably have the best centre half depth in Europe. Outside of a fullback who can play both sides, then, what is there to buy?</p>
<p id="63dlvl">I get that fans always want more—more depth, more signings, more excitement. I mean, hell, <em>I</em> want more. But when you actually break it down, draw it out, I’m not sure Liverpool really <em>need</em> more. Outside of that fullback, at least.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2hzv9b">
<h2 id="XPuiTe">Steph</h2>
<p id="BHz88l">The only thing that frightens me a bit is the possibility of two of our front three injured at the same time. I think that without a bit of cover in attack, the cracks might start to show as the season wears on—especially as Mane, Firmino, and Salah all had very intense summers with their respective national teams. <span>Divock Origi</span> and Rhian Brewster will be waiting in the wings for their opportunities, but Brewster isn’t exactly known for his fitness, and Origi may have proved himself to be a big game player but week after week he’s still hit or miss. </p>
<p id="Ib9wdn">Still, with Klopp’s copious midfield options, maybe the manager is happy with the idea of a few creative solutions for that lack of forward depth, with the likes of Naby Keita, <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span>, and <span>Adam Lallana</span> available to be pressed into service if it comes to that. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Up264L">
<h2 id="T0guOW">Gabe</h2>
<p id="PwS4xI">Klopp has shown a penchant for building a cohesive core squad, as well as infusing talent from the youth ranks. He’s shown confidence in the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and <span>Joe Gomez</span> and it has paid off in a big way. Rhian Brewster looks like the next one on the list to take a big jump and take over Sturridge’s role off the bench. Ki-Jana Hoever might also be considered for a reserve role at right back. Midfield and centre back are stacked with Ox coming back from a year off and Keita and Fabinho settled from the start of this season.</p>
<p id="YU7y9j"> Still, I worry about the depth up top and at fullback. If Sadio Mane, <span>Mohamed Salah</span>, or <span>Roberto Firmino</span> are out for any real time, I’m not confident we have someone who steps right in and has the same attacking verve. A back up left back would help ease some heart palpitations as well.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="SySyej">
<h2 id="49T7i4">Matt</h2>
<p id="P10EMm">There’s still a bit of time left on the clock to add some quality depth. So I’m not completely convinced that Liverpool won’t make a last minute move for a fullback. But I can see the case for letting the attacking setup ride. Divock Origi has continued to look effective in pre-season on the left side and can spell Roberto Firmino in the middle as well. Rhian Brewster could happen in a big way this season. And Klopp has a slew of attacking midfielders who can fill in on the wings when needed.</p>
<p id="SSSsWa">I’d be pleased as punch if an exciting new player was paraded around the Melwood kitchen. I’m content with reality, though. The owners, the recruitment team, and the manager have all proven to be a group committed to Liverpool’s success, and sharp and clever enough to build a winning team. There’s an actual plan and, after a decade of amorphous ideas, that’s really doing it for me, new signings or no new signings.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HWxdMK">
<h2 id="yyX5q5">Zach</h2>
<p id="ZIVRL5">No big signings now just means we’re getting #Mbappe2020, obviously. (Half) joking aside, the transfers in and out under Klopp have been impeccable. Almost every player has been a hit, and the “misses” (i.e. <span>Loris Karius</span>, <span>Ragnar Klavan</span>), were A) inexpensive, and B) served a role on the squad until a better (or much better) player could be brought in.</p>
<p id="9Q1QmQ">Recently, we’ve seen Klopp, Edwards, & Co. move from the bargain bin to signing out-and-out belters. If they say there are no Big Name Players™ that fit their needs and are available this window, I believe them. Frankly, it’d be hard to improve this squad, and even harder to improve the starting XI. Those in charge of transfers surely remember how difficult it was to bring this club to this point, and in order to have sustained success, they’ll need to continue operating in the same manner that got them here.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="YknAWq">
<h2 id="YdtT7a">Ritika</h2>
<p id="1yuuvK"><span>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</span> is like a new signing now that he’s fit, right? But seriously, while I continue to have concerns about what we’d do if half the squad got injured (especially any key members of the back four and the front three), I don’t think those concerns ever really go away, no matter how many players you sign or options you have.</p>
<p id="KMKNDl">What has gone away, at least for me, is the lack of trust in Liverpool’s transfer business. I was pretty ambivalent towards any new signings this summer, especially given the general strength of the squad, but I found the speed with which Mignolet was replaced heartening. The Powers That Be know what they’re doing—and for once, I actually agree with what they’re doing. That said, I wouldn’t sneeze at a new fullback.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ZNHaav">
<h2 id="54GIWg">AJ</h2>
<p id="bUBMQ5">I’m rather chill on the transfer front. Would it be fun to flex our standing as Kings of Europe by rolling out some cash on a splashy signing? Sure! But it also wouldn’t really be Liverpool or Klopp’s way. And given how Klopp didn’t have the full complement of players at his disposal last year (big injuries to Ox and The Admiral meant we never saw all of what Klopp designed), I can definitely feel relaxed at the official line being that the priority was keeping the current squad together and happy.</p>
<p id="m2RevR">This past year saw extensions to nearly all of our core players—and that’s huge! Committing to the Liverpool project may seem like an afterthought, but it isn’t when you consider how many players we’ve had trouble retaining in past years. So I’ll take the tradeoff of keeping our players over a big signing this summer.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="xMHiXd">
<h2 id="2rCgY2">In this Series</h2>
<h4 id="w55QtJ">Monday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/5/20754589/liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-epl-title-hopefuls-defending-champions-league-klopp-edwards">Part One: Title Hopefuls</a><br>Tuesday — Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth<br>Wednesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/7/20758298/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-player-of-the-season-predictions-naby-keita-joe-gomez">Part Three: Player Predictions</a><br>Thursday — Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success</h4>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/6/20756597/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-epl-season-preview-no-summer-transfers-squad-depth-concernsNoel ChomynMark KastnerJordan J. KeebleAudun ManumepicskylineCruyff Turns AnonymousMatt WoodZachary MarxrbhaskerAJ Joven2019-08-05T16:30:00+01:002019-08-05T16:30:00+01:00The Liverpool Offside 2019-20 Season Preview, Part One: Title Hopefuls
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<img alt="Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YsYsaeVY5BsnQDXQ234cqLKIFLA=/56x0:6859x4535/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64913871/1153734847.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Liverpool head into 2019-20 a top two side in England and top ten in Europe. It’s been a heck of a journey to get here.</p> <h2 id="5kYn5t">Part One: Title Hopefuls</h2>
<p id="R4bOgk"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> are your defending <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> winners. They’re coming off a 97-point league season. And, unlike in past years, they’ve kept the squad together. They may not be outright favourites, but they’re a near universal top two pick for the Premier League. It’s not a position Liverpool have been in, not in the Premier League era, so we wanted the staff of The Liverpool Offside to reflect on the journey—and the club’s return to the limelight.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="xO3DLV">
<h2 id="OWxzSY">Zach</h2>
<p id="2bQmlC">Before winning the Champions League final, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/5/29/18643913/exclusive-interview-liverpool-throw-in-coach-thomas-gronnemark-part-1-klopp-champions-league-final">I remarked to Thomas Gronnemark</a> that Liverpool supporters had more fun losing to Real Madrid the year before than City fans had winning any and all of their three trophies this year.</p>
<p id="DRiKmL">After winning it? This is well better. City are still favourites, and deservedly so, but just take a second to look at our squad. It’s chock full of players and personalities that aren’t just objectively good at their job of kicking a ball, but seemingly good human beings as well. And it’s headed by the best of all of us, Jurgen Norbert Klopp. It’s easy to root for a squad full of players who were overlooked—some of whom have been relegated and rejected. Throw in a couple of undeniable belters and an academy hero, well, now you’ve got a stew. </p>
<p id="M39i2S">The journey that brought us here since Klopp took over—from drifting without a rudder in the sea of mid-table mediocrity to one with a clear vision and purpose—has been incredible to watch. And it should give us Reds even more appreciation of the end product and where we are now, both on and off the pitch. </p>
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<h2 id="bEFyg8">AJ</h2>
<p id="3Y96aW">What a long, strange trip it’s been. Honestly, I’ve written ad nauseam at this point about how abrupt and distinct Liverpool’s improvement has been since I’ve been a fan—and how that contrast is made more abrupt because my fandom was forged during the days of Roy Hodgson and the end of the Hicks and Gillett era. </p>
<p id="qY54js">But it really can’t be overstated: we’re standing in the sunshine of a new and brilliant dawn, and instead of being anxious or angsty about not signing anyone this window, I am cool and calm knowing that any lack of movement at this point is down to Klopp looking out at the market and saying <em>thanks but</em> <em>no thanks.</em></p>
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<h2 id="7PbHc2">Mark</h2>
<p id="RIEjC2">It feels great to be a Liverpool fan right now. The team is really good and the Club is doing (mostly) all the right things on and off the pitch. It feels like a real chance for them to push on and establish themselves as one of the best (if not the best) team in Europe. Oh, and it’s quite fun to be the insufferable prick every fan of other teams thought we’d be if we won the league. Joke’s on them. We’ve conquered all of Europe and we’re never gonna stop. </p>
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<h2 id="ZJtKl9">Jordan</h2>
<p id="hfDJWf">I’ve also talked previously about being someone who found the club while Hodgson was in charge and so not knowing what success would really, truly feel like. The kind of progress we’ve witnessed in the past few years has been incredible, then, even when it sometimes hasn’t felt like progress in the moment, and last season was the first time we got to harvest the fruits of our labor. And what a harvest it was.</p>
<p id="36e63v">So does that mean we have to keep planting for next season and for another harvest or is there still bounty to harvest this season? I think, for me, it’s pretty important that for the first time we were able to keep a winning team together, so that gives me hope for the season to come, especially seeing what Tottenham was able to achieve with a less talented squad that they didn’t add to last season.</p>
<p id="QGZoSC">While things have looked dire at times during preseason, I trust that all the pieces are in place to mount an even stronger challenge—and hopefully come out on top. I am nothing if not an optimist. </p>
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<h2 id="C7mOom">Audun</h2>
<p id="WOnM6J">It’s odd how inevitable where Liverpool are feels right now—because it certainly didn’t feel inevitable at the start and it’s been in the making for a few seasons where the club has been able to add talent to the roster at a rate completely unheard of in the past—but given how uncommon the sort of trust, leeway and patience Klopp and Edwards have been given is in modern football, we really should not take the position Liverpool are in for granted.</p>
<p id="zCrT1d">A unified vision of what kind of personalities are desired, what level of talent is required, and what brand of football is aspired to has made this team unique and uniquely fun to follow, both on and off the pitch. I’m enjoying the hell out of every day of it, am happy that a major trophy has been earned already, and hopeful that the club can establish themselves at this level for the long term.</p>
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<h2 id="3YdGiY">Steph</h2>
<p id="B79kxy">What a time to be a Liverpool fan. Will this feeling ever become normal? I’ve barely even stopped crying from watching <span>Jordan Henderson</span> lift the Champions League trophy, and it’s already time to do it all over again. </p>
<p id="mQhVQL">Imagine going back in time and telling yourself that Liverpool will make no major signings over the summer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>, and you’re going to be pretty much fine with it. The team that Klopp has put together feel greater than the sum of their parts. The fact that we’ve kept all of our best players and get to see some old friends like <span>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</span> get added to the mix makes me so excited for this season.</p>
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<h2 id="mwpIoS">Gabe</h2>
<p id="PYSvJO">Looking at how Klopp and Edwards put this squad together is really something to behold. They’ve built an incredible core of players, a group that counts some absolute world class standouts amongst them. Not only are they good players, they have as a group bought into Klopp’s plans and carried his plan out leading to European glory for the sixth time. And on top of the current success, you can see how the youth system revamp and infusion of talent is building the next generation of players for continued success. This is a very nice feeling to have.</p>
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<h2 id="ufNYtc">Noel</h2>
<p id="vgaERL">It can be easy to get caught up in the hand-wringing over new signings and depth and trying to keep up with City, but sometimes you just need to step back and at least try to take it in. Liverpool are clear second favourites in England, a top ten team in Europe. This time, they’ve kept the team together—this time, unlike in past years when they’ve been good and close and almost there and then it’s all fallen apart.</p>
<p id="x668DO">They have the best centre half in Europe. Arguably the best goalkeeper. They’ve got Salah and Mané and Firmino. The list goes on. With the club’s title drought ticking over to three decades there’s some unavoidable angst and urgency for some—but it’s also worth noting that this is a place most Liverpool fans today have never been. This is a place fans who were first introduced via the Spice Boys or arrived in time for Houllier’s treble or lived through Hicks and Gillett’s dismantling have never experienced. And it’s a place that most thought Liverpool would never get back to</p>
<p id="xNlCWq">Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe again. They’re a destination club. They’re title hopefuls at the very least. And they actually—somehow, and at least as far as anything can be in football—look to be secure in that position. Step back and breathe it in. Celebrate it. Enjoy it.</p>
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<h2 id="2rCgY2">In this Series</h2>
<h4 id="w55QtJ">Monday — Part One: Title Hopefuls<br>Tuesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/6/20756597/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-epl-season-preview-no-summer-transfers-squad-depth-concerns">Part Two: Transfers & Squad Depth</a><br>Wednesday — <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/7/20758298/the-liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-player-of-the-season-predictions-naby-keita-joe-gomez">Part Three: Player Predictions</a><br>Thursday — Part Four: Season Priorities & Defining Success</h4>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2019/8/5/20754589/liverpool-offside-2019-20-season-preview-epl-title-hopefuls-defending-champions-league-klopp-edwardsNoel ChomynZachary MarxAJ JovenMark KastnerJordan J. KeebleAudun ManumepicskylineCruyff Turns Anonymous