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. 

Premiership preview, table prediction: 5. Arsenal

Arsenal 

Arsenal Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Arsène Wenger

Ground: Emirates Stadium

Nickname: The Gunners

Capacity: 60361

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Manuel Almunia 13 Wojciech Szczesny 21 Lukasz Fabianski 29 Vito Mannone 59 Damian Martinez Defenders 3 Bacary Sagna 5 Thomas Vermaelen 6 Laurent Koscielny 18 Sebastien Squillaci 20 Johan Djourou 25 Carl Jenkinson 28 Kieran Gibbs 28 Gavin Hoyte 30 Armand Traore 48 Ignasi Miquel Pedro Botelho

Midfielders 2 Abou Diaby 4 Cesc Fabregas 16 Aaron Ramsey 17 Alex Song 19 Jack Wilshere 26 Alex Chamberlain 27 Emmanuel Eboue 35 Emmanuel Frimpong 40 Craig Eastmond 44 Conor Henderson 46 Henri Lansbury 58 Nicholas Yennaris Francis Coquelin Samuel Galindo Attacking Midfielders 7 Tomas Rosicky 8 Samir Nasri 23 Andrey Arshavin Sanchez Watt

Forwards 10 Robin van Persie 14 Theo Walcott 18 Carlos Vela 22 Gervinho 29 Marouane Chamakh 33 Benik Afobe 42 Ryo Miyaichi 49 Rhys Murphy 52 Nicklas Bendtner 56 Luke Freeman 57 Gilles Sunu

Arsenal finished last season in a disappointing 4^th place. The Gunners are usually one of the first teams getting mentioned as a title contender, but if you ask me this season is going to one big disappointment for Arsenal fans. There have been a lot of speculations about Fabregas and Nasri this summer, and as I’m writing now it being said that Fabregas is more or less a Barcelona player, and that Nasri will join Man City within a day or so. This has been a long and bad process for the whole club, and the ending cannot be good for Wenger. Losing two of his key player’s right before the start of the season. Bringing in players and getting them settled into the club and the system is not easy after the season have started. Replacing one of the best playmakers in the world is not easy in itself. The belief in the squad has properly gone to hell, and a lot of players might be looking to exit Emirates stadium in the coming year. Manager Arsène Wenger is world class, but he is in for what most likely is his hardest challenge in his career. The question is will he be able to keep his own motivation after this?

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 13 vs Malaysia XI 4-0 – Ramsey, Walcott, Vela, Rosicky

July 16 vs Hangzhou Greentown 1-1 – Vela

July 23 vs FC Cologne 2-1 – Gervinho (2)

July 30 vs Boca Juniors 2-2 Van Persie, Ramsey

July 31 vs New York Red Bulls 1-1 Van Persie

August 6 vs Benfica 1-2 Van Persie

Players in

07/11 Craig Eastmond DF Millwall FC

07/11 Emmanuel Frimpong MF Arsenal FC (R)

07/11 Gervinho FW Lille OSC

07/11 Carl Jenkinson DF Charlton Athletic

07/11 Henri Lansbury MF Norwich City

07/11 Vito Mannone GK Hull City

07/11 Ryo Miyaichi FW Feyenoord

07/11 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain MF Southampton FC

07/11 Armand Traoré DF Juventus

07/11 Carlos Vela FW West Bromwich Albion

Players out

06/11 Gael Clichy DF Manchester City

06/11 Denilson MF São Paulo FC

06/11 James Shea GK Dagenham & Redbridge

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Wilshere (Jack)                              Unknown                           Ankle injury

Van Persie (Robin)                         13th Aug 2011                   Knee injury

Koscielny (Laurent)                        13th Aug 2011                   Muscle injury

Nasri (Samir)                                  13th Aug 2011                  Muscle injury

Abou Diaby (Vassiriki)                   17th Sep 2011                     Ankle injury

The signing of Gervinho is clearly not enough to get Arsenal to fight for titles this season and Wenger needs to spend a lot of money if he is going to keep up with the big guns in the league. To make things even worse it’s many key players out with injury before the season starts as well. Players like Wilshire, Van Persie, Diaby and Koscielny are all out with small or bigger injuries.

Most likely starting lineup for Arsenal next weekend:

13 Wojciech Szczesny

3 Bacary Sagna     20 Johan Djourou    6 Laurent Koscielny   28 Kieran Gibbs

16 Aaron Ramsey  17 Alex Song

7 Tomas Rosicky                                                                             23 Andrey Arshavin

                                    22 Gervinho        29 Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal still have a big squad with plenty of talent, but losing two of their biggest playmakers and captain right before it all kick-starts, is a massive blow to the team. Arsene Wenger have a lot to do within a small period of time, and the biggest job is boosting his own and the squads moral and hope before it’s too late. I think Arsenal is in for a humongous disappointment this season, and need to spend big if they are to get a champions league spot. Wenger is by far one of the best managers out there, so if anybody can do this it’s him. Myself I think they will fail to come top 4 this season.

Premiership preview, table prediction: 6. Everton

Everton 

Everton Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: David Moyes

Ground: Goodison Park

Nickname: Toffees

Capacity: 40157

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Jan Mucha 24 Tim Howard Defenders 2 Tony Hibbert 3 Joseph Yobo 3 Leighton Baines 5 John Heitinga 6 Phil Jagielka 15 Sylvain Distin 23 Seamus Coleman 25 Shane Duffy 30 Shkodran Mustafi 32 Luke Garbutt 41 Jake Bidwell 44 Aristote Nsiala

Midfielders 7 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 10 Mikel Arteta 16 James Wallace 17 Tim Cahill 18 Phil Neville 20 Ross Barkley 21 Leon Osman 25 Marouane Fellaini 26 Jack Rodwell 33 Adam Forshaw 36 Araz Abdullayev Femi Orenuga

Forwards 8 Louis Saha 16 Jermaine Beckford 19 Magaye Gueye 24 Yakubu 27 Apostolos Vellios 28 Victor Anichebe 29 Joao Silva 37 Jose Baxter 40 Conor McAleny

Everton had a season of two half’s and after a good second part of the season they ended in 7^th place last season. Manager David Moyes have been at the club since 2002 and is one of the most experienced premiership managers in the league. It has been little of no media coverage of Everton this summer and Moyes have therefore have good time to rally his troops for a strong season this year. One can say that they haven’t strengthened the team, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The players know how Moyes want to play, and Moyes know better than most managers how to get results in the premiership.  Little action on the transfer marked means that the players are confident and secure about their position in the club which gives the manager good time to focus on the football and structure of it rather than complaining players and media focus. I bet Moyes is happy that he isn’t in Wenger or Redknapps position with Fabregas, Nasri and Modric right before the start of a new season.

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 15 vs Bury 4-1 – Yakubu, Gueye (2), Osman

July 20 vs Philadelphia Union 0-1

July 23 vs DC United 3-1 – Anichebe, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye

July 30 vs Birmingham City 2-1 Baines, Saha

August 2 vs Werder Bremen 0-1

August 5th vs Villarreal 0-1

Players in

07/11 Yakubu Ayegbeni FW Leicester City                Back from loan

07/11 Joseph Yobo DF Fenerbahçe                           Back from loan

Players out

06/11 Iain Turner GK Preston North End

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Arteta (Mikel)                                20th Aug 2011                 Foot injury

Bilyaletdinov (Diniyar)                    27th Aug 2011                 3 Match Ban

Coleman (Seamus)                         Unknown                         Ankle injury

Most likely starting lineup for Everton next weekend:

24 Tim Howard

3 Leighton Baines      6 Phil Jagielka    15 Sylvain Distin   18 Phil Neville                  

                                              

17 Tim Cahill      26 Jack Rodwell                              

21 Leon Osman                                                                      20 Ross Barkley

8 Louis Saha       19 Magaye Gueye

With the experience of both the manager and then squad, Everton should be looking to qualify for Europe this season. Of course there is still some time left of the transfer window, which could mean that some players may still leave or come in, but at the moment things are looking good for Everton in my opinion. Everton where also “lucky” that the away game to Tottenham was postponed. I say this because it means that on paper they have an “easy” start to the season now. First 4 games are against teams like QPR, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Wigan. These are all games they could win, and should/could give them confidence before going up against Manchester city, Liverpool and Chelsea in the next 3 games. I see Everton finish in a top position this year and my prediction is 6^th place.