If you’re a betting man, you can still get decent odds on Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League for the first time. You can make some serious cash, some sites even allow to you make bets with Bitcoin, if Klopp’s side lives up to their lofty expectations heading into next season.
The Reds finished fourth in the Premier League this past season, and many will have LFC pegged as a legitimate contender to Manchester City’s league title. With the upcoming preseason tour in the United States set to begin, Klopp said that he does not believe more spending is necessary.
The German manager said, “We have everything we need for next season because I don’t think we will do anything more in the market, I’m pretty sure of that. We have the squad now for the moment, and that’s the most important thing. We were not too bad last year but we had to improve, and we tried that in the transfer market.”
Liverpool have not yet acquired a direct replacement for Philippe Coutinho, the No. 10 that was famously sold to Barcelona in January. Fekir would represent a more like-for-like addition to the squad, but the team’s performance wasn’t harmed in the least by the Brazilian’s untimely departure.
Klopp added, “We lost one or two players and we brought in a few. I’m really happy with our signings to be honest, so now let’s use the last few weeks of preseason to be as good as possible.”
So, while the Fekir-to-Liverpool rumors may persist, the manager is at least publicly insisting that there is nothing more to buy. With Lyon already having publicly stated that Fekir will be with the squad next season, the Reds may have to wait at least until the upcoming winter window if they still have interest in bringing the World Cup champion to England.
That said, it is hard to be disappointed with the talent Liverpool have brought in already. The club reportedly paid upwards of £60 million for the rights to the Brazilian No. 1, and Klopp will be hopeful that the player’s world class talents will solve the team’s seemingly never-ending goalkeeper search. The fee was the most any club has paid for a keeper.
The money may well be money well spent considering the disastrous play of Liverpool keepers in recent years. Simon Mignolet was never able to constantly hold down the No. 1 job despite more than ample opportunities, while Loris Karius endured a well-publicized disaster in the Champions League Final in which his errors led directly to a pair of Real Madrid goals.
Fabinho is expected to provide some stability in midfield just in front of the back-four. The Brazilian is a cagey defender and a smart passer, and his instincts would jive well with Liverpool’s high-octane counter-attacking style. Ditto for Keita, whose speed and agility will make him a natural fit alongside the speedy trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in attack.
Shaqiri, the talisman for Switzerland at the World Cup, was added to provide some attacking depth should one of the aforementioned star players come up with an injury or need a rest. Shaqiri’s herky-jerky style and powerful left foot may make him a favorite among supporters if he is able to find regular time on the pitch.
Time will tell if Klopp’s comments prove accurate. Should a key player come down with an injury, or should another player seek a transfer, things could always change. We have already heard murmurs surrounding Georginio Wijnaldum’s potential interest in leaving if his spot in the Reds starting XI isn’t assured. If the Dutchman is sold, perhaps Liverpool could renew their interest in someone like Fekir before the window slams shut.
One thing is certain, Liverpool will be a force to reckon with this season. Klopp’s previous purchases (Salah, Mane, Van Dijk) have proven to be master strokes in the past, and there are high expectations with all of the newcomers at Anfield leading into the upcoming Premier League campaign. Do Liverpool have enough firepower to make another deep run into Champions League?
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