Premiership preview, table prediction: 4. Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Kenny Dalglish

Ground: Anfield

Nickname: The Reds

Capacity: 45362

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Brad Jones 25 Pepe Reina 32 Alexander Doni         Defenders 2 Glen Johnson 5 Daniel Agger 6 Fabio Aurelio 16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos 22 Danny Wilson 23 Jamie Carragher 34 Martin Kelly 35 Conor Coady 37 Martin Skrtel 38 John Flanagan 40 Daniel Ayala 47 Andre Wisdom 49 Jack Robinson Emiliano Insua Philipp Degen Jose Enrique

Midfielders 4 Raul Meireles 8 Steven Gerrard 10 Joe Cole 14 Jordan Henderson 15 Alberto Aquilani 17 Maxi Rodriguez 19 Stewart Downing 20 Jay Spearing 21 Lucas 26 Charlie Adam 28 Christian Poulsen 33 Jonjo Shelvey

Forwards 7 Luis Suarez 9 Andy Carroll 12 Daniel Pacheco 18 Dirk Kuyt 24 David N'Gog 39 Nathan Eccleston 46 David Amoo Nabil El Zhar

Liverpool started the season horribly last season, and as I predicted from day one of appointing Hodgson and signing players like Paulsen and Konchesky it was doom for the club. But for the Liverpool fans a came a miracle out of nowhere when they got new owners and getting rid of Hodgson and bringing back King Kenny. Dalglish won the last League title for the club, and brought so much joy to the fans, both as manager and player back in the days. After years of darkness at Anfield it finally felt like a new dawn for the club and fans.

With a renewed hope and owners backing the club and understanding the fans and history of the club, it looks like Liverpool with Kenny in charge can challenge for the top 4 spots again. The question is if King Kenny can bring Liverpool even into a title challenge. I think not, but I bet a lot of the fans do, and with the backing of The Kop they will be a hard team to beat this season.

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 13 vs Guangdong Sunray Cave 4-3 – Poulsen, N’Gog, Coady, Carroll

July 16 vs Malaysia XI 6-3 – Adam, N’Gog (2), Rodriguez (2), Kuyt

July 23 vs Hull 0-3 July 28 vs Galatasaray 0-3

August 1 vs Valerenga 3-3 Carroll, Agger (2)

August 6 vs Valencia 2-0 Carroll, Kuyt

Players in

08/11 José Enrique DF Newcastle United

07/11 Stewart Downing MF Aston Villa

07/11 Charlie Adam MF Blackpool FC

07/11 David Amoo FW Hull City

07/11 Alberto Aquilani MF Juventus

07/11 Philipp Degen DF VfB Stuttgart

07/11 Doni GK AS Roma

07/11 Nathan Eccleston FW Charlton Athletic

07/11 Nabil El Zhar MF PAOK Saloniki

07/11 Jordan Henderson MF Sunderland AFC

07/11 Emiliano Insua DF Galatasaray

07/11 Brad Jones GK Derby County

07/11 Emmanuel Mendy DF Liverpool FC (R)

07/11 Dani Pacheco FW Norwich City

07/11 Suso MF Liverpool FC (R)

Players out

07/11 Paul Konchesky DF Leicester City

06/11 Stephen Darby DF Rochdale AFC

06/11 Péter Gulácsi GK Hull City

06/11 Martin Hansen GK Bradford City

06/11 Conor Thomas MF Coventry City

Dalglish have done a lot of good signing and it looks like he is mainly interested in britans or players with premiership experience. I guess some of the idea is that this will make it easier for him to bring Liverpool back in the top of England, since the player s know what English football is all about. It’s no secret that most foreigners need time to adept to the premiership, but this should not be a problem at Liverpool this season.

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Skrtel (Martin)                               20th Aug 2011                 Calf injury

Gerrard (Steven)                            4th Sep 2011                  Groin Injury               

Johnson (Glen)                               13th Aug 2011                Thigh injury                 

Most likely starting lineup for Liverpool next weekend:

25 Pepe Reina

34 Martin Kelly   23 Jamie Carragher    5 Daniel Agger    Jose Enrique

19 Stewart Downing  26 Charlie Adam   14 Jordan Henderson    18 Dirk Kuyt

7 Luis Suarez     9 Andy Carroll

Looking at Liverpool’s squad it’s as good as most of the top teams, except for the defence. They should have had a central defender of higher quality, and if they get and injury on Agger they might be in trouble against the best teams. That being said, I’m my opinion they got the strongest midfield in the premiership at the moment. Players like Gerrard, Meireles, Aquilani, Adam, Downing, Lucas and Henderson will give Daglish plenty of option this season. I reckon he will play 4-5-1 mostly away, to take advantage of the strong line of midfielders he got.  With the best goalkeeper in the premiership in Reina, and creative Suarez and hard hitting Carrol in front I believe Liverpool will nick the important 4^th place in front of Arsenal and Tottenham. But I think it’s too early for Dalglish to challenge the two Manchester teams and Chelsea for the title.