The summer signings have largely been upgrades on those they have replaced and even archetypal “one for the future” recruit Gomez has looked in pre season like that future may already be here. Brendan Rodgers has publicly acknowledged that he was responsible for last year’s poor showing and his change of backroom staff, if viewed positively, is an indication that he has also acknowledged that he needs help in figuring out solutions to the failures of 2014-15.
It is also the first post-Gerrard season and that will likely be a significant factor in the tenor of the whole campaign. Gerrard has been a dominant figure for so long that his declining performances were rightly overlooked but his latter days were perhaps a diversion. I have been critical of Rodgers, the end of last season has left huge doubts about his ability to set a team up to be consistently successful, but being the manager who had to oversee the phasing out of a club legend was an unenvious task.
There were occasions when Gerrard was absent through injury that other players such as Henderson, Lucas and even Joe Allen took on a greater responsibility and the midfield seemed a more cohesive and mobile unit. Just to be clear none of this takes away from Gerrard’s standing as one of, if not the greatest, players in the clubs history but its a sad fact that time catches up with everyone.
The fact that Lucas and Allen are probably not of the required quality does not alter the reality that such mobility is a crucial component of today’s game and of Rodgers' pressing strategy and some combination of Milner, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino should offer the required legs and cunning to worry opponents.
Up front Benteke could not offer less than last years striking options and clearly has the potential to bring a whole lot more. The lack of movement ahead of them affected both Coutinho and Gerrard last season, removing their eye for a pass from their repertoire and even Sterling, who was the architect of many of his own problems, suffered from the absence of a mobile and quick footed striker. If Benteke can make good his promise that he is more than just a player who thrives on crosses then both he and Sturridge should shift the goalscoring column significantly in a positive direction.
All of that and the natural anticipation of a new season give rise to a feeling of optimism that was all but snuffed out by the end of last year. It is memories of that denouement to the season that stop such optimism taking too firm a grip and the prospect of conceding too many goals still looms large as defensively the side and squad still look light in both ability and depth.
As a result it is not too hard to see any offensive advantage being undermined by leaks at the back and it appears that Rodgers is relying on a free flowing attack to compensate for those deficiencies. During the 13/14 season it was not uncommon to see a look of disbelief cross Luis Suarez’s face as another goal was conceded. It was swiftly followed by a look of determination to drive the side forward again and that belief which spread from the Uruguayan to his team mates was crucial to the effectiveness of Rodgers' tactics that season. It remains to be seen whether such spirit exists this time round.
One thing is clear, and has been made so by Ian Ayre and Tom Werner, and that is that these players and back room staff are Rodger’s, so there can be no more confusion as to where responsibility lies. It is up to the manager to devise a way of playing and implement it that is effective enough to get Liverpool performing above the “par” of fifth place that he claimed was the club’s rightful place last year. Given that he fell below that and has apparently staked further control during the close season (I have my doubts that is really the case but I will put my paranoia to one side for now) leaves him no where to hide this time out.
Either way the season has the feeling of a pivotal moment in the clubs recent history. FSG have probably played their best hand since taking over in the sense of eking out improvement in the squad with a modest net outlay and Rodgers has reportedly got the players and backroom staff he wanted. The club’s identity has shifted with the departure of Gerrard following on from the loss of the other scouse heartbeat of Jamie Carragher and I cannot remember a squad that had less of a sense of connection with the history of the club. While that may feel disconcerting it also provides the opportunity for this manager and these players to collectively achieve something for themselves and the club.
They have a tough start to the season, if they weather it and are still in contention for a top four finish by Christmas then belief should spread to both players and fans. If they collapse under the early season run of difficult away fixtures then Rodgers future and the next direction of the club could both be very uncertain by the turn of the year. One thing that is definitive; it is never boring being a Liverpool supporter.
