With the new season less than a week away, Liverpool will be anxious to get the Barclays Premier League season started on the right foot. Coming off a sixth place finish in 2015 and another trophy-less season for Brendan Rodgers, the Reds will be hoping to end their silverware drought and return to the top four in the table.
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In order to do so, the club will need to incorporate the new players into the squad and have them perform up to expectations. Meanwhile, the existing players at the club will need to adapt to playing with their new teammates. With so many new faces at the club, here is a preview of what the upcoming season will have in store for Liverpool.
Premier League Finish: 75 Points / 4th Place
It is hard to imagine that Liverpool could have done anything else to improve the squad ahead of the upcoming season. The club had several areas of weakness and these needs have been filled. The club improved at right-back with Nathaniel Clyne, midfield with Roberto Firmino and James Milner, and attack with Danny Ings and Christian Benteke.
The Reds will finish will 75 points and will grab the last spot in the UEFA Champions League. The club has definitely improved, but not enough to challenge for a Premier League Trophy in 2016. If the new players fit well at Liverpool, 2017 could be a trophy winning campaign for the Reds.
UEFA Europa League Finish: Semifinals
Liverpool will be happy to be competing in Europe for the second consecutive season, although they would prefer to be in the Champions League. UEFA Europa League involves a busy schedule and adds a large amount of games to an already crowded fixture list. The Reds will boast one of the best squads in the competition and should make a deep run. However, one of the teams that drops out of the Champions League will eliminate Liverpool at the Semifinal stage of the competition.
FA Cup and Capital One Cup Results: FA Cup Quarterfinalist and Capital One Cup Winner
The FA Cup is one of the hardest competitions to predict in football. With so many upsets and challengers from every league in England, it’s nearly impossible to predict the fate of your favorite club. Liverpool reached the Semifinals in 2015 and suffered disappointing defeat to Aston Villa. Look for the Reds to fall victim to another team that sits beneath them in the table.
The Capital One Cup will be a different story for Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers will be desperate for a trophy and his side will play with desperation in this cup competition. The Daily Mail chronicles the struggles of Rodgers and his ability to win silverware for Liverpool. It may not be the biggest trophy in the sport, but Liverpool will be thrilled when they lift the Capital One Cup in 2016.
Goals For Christian Benteke: 21
Christian Benteke has scored at least 10 goals in each of the past three seasons. The Belgian tallied 19 goals for Aston Villa in the 2012-2013 season. Liverpool boasts a squad that is far superior than the one possessed at Villa in previous seasons. Look for Benteke to thrive at Liverpool in a squad full of International stars. Benteke will break the 20 goal tally and lead the Reds in scoring.
Most Important Player: James Milner
It is impossible to replace a player with the experience, class, and quality of Steven Gerrard. However, James Milner has several of the qualities that Steven Gerrard took with him to Major League Soccer. Milner is incredibly experienced, works extremely hard for the team, and scores goals from his midfield position. Milner will not be relied upon to score goals, but the success of Liverpool will be determined by Milner’s ability to drive the club forward.
Next: Which Liverpool player has been linked with a move to Barcelona?
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