Date: 7th August 2015 at 9:27am
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Formed: 1892 Manager: Brendan Rodgers Stadium: Anfield Capacity: 45,276 Years in Premier League: 23 Last 3 seasons: 2014-15: 6th 2013-14: 2nd 2012-13: 7th Best finish: 2nd (2001-02, 2008-09, 2013-14)  Opening day fixture: Stoke City (A), Aug 9 Last day fixture: West Brom (A), May 15

28th April 2015 - Barclays Premier League - Hull City v Liverpool - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers gives the thumbs up - Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

This season’s aim:

Having finished runners-up during the 2013-14 campaign, missing out on their first Premier League title by just two points to Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers’ title contenders flopped following last summer’s sale of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona, with the Reds finishing sixth to just about qualify for the UEFA Europa League by the skin of their teeth. Many experts, pundits and bookmakers fancy Rodgers to be the first managerial casualty of the season, but the former Swansea City boss has completed some fine transfer business during the off-season, bringing in the likes of James Milner, Danny Ings, Nathaniel Clyne and Christian Benteke into his disposal. However the key departures of captain Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling from Anfield could prove decisive this season if Liverpool are to mount a serious challenge on the top-four once more.

Transfers in:

07 April 2015 - Barclays Premier League - Aston VIlla v Queens Park Rangers - Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his hat trick goal - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

James Milner (Manchester City), Danny Ings (Burnley), Adam Bogdan (Bolton Wanderers), Joe Gomez (Charlton Athletic), Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)

Transfers out:

Steven Gerrard (Los Angeles Galaxy), Glen Johnson (Released), Brad Jones (Released), Sebastian Coates (Sunderland), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andre Wisdom (Norwich City), Rickie Lambert (West Brom)

Star Player: Philippe Coutinho

16th May 2015 - Barclays Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool - Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Named as the only Liverpool player in the 2014-15 PFA Team of the Year, the Reds will need the brilliant Brazilian’s goalscoring exploits more than ever this season after the departures of legendary captain Steven Gerrard and winger Raheem Sterling. Coutinho, who arrived at Anfield from Inter Milan back in January 2013, scored eight goals in 52 appearances in all competitions last season for Brendan Rodgers’ side, including one of the goals of the season against Southampton back in February. Despite losing out to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Tottenham’s Harry Kane for the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards respectively, Coutinho is certainly a Premier League gem and is an imperative player in Liverpool’s aim to regain Champions League football this term.

Shoot’s Liverpool blogger: Kirsty W

Blogger’s view: “Despite the bags of money we have spent I don’t expect much from us at all this season, I’m not sure we’ll break into the top four and I can see us finishing in a similar position to last season. I’m usually quite the optimistic fan but I can’t get excited at the moment, I just hope we get off to a good start! In terms of players to watch out for, I think everybody is going to have a close eye on Benteke, Liverpool fans and neutrals. £32.5 million is a lot of money and it could leave Brendan Rodgers red faced if the forward doesn’t fit in at Anfield. I’m also very interested to see what our Brazilian signing Firmino will have to offer.”

Blogger’s key man: Philippe Coutinho

Shoot Says: 5th

 
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One response to “Premier League 15/16 Season Preview: Liverpool”

  1. Red Ted says:

    2009 Liverpool were UEFA’s no 1 rated club. Under the incompetent regime of FSG and their stooge manager Rodgers we have fallen to 55 and 5th is ‘par’ in the league, although the idiot couldn’t even achieve that. If we struggle again even FSG will have to get rid the blagger and appoint a man with enough stature for the job. Sadly Rafa has gone to Real Madrid so Klopp would be a good choice, assuming of course he would work under the Yanks.