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English Premier League
SportFootball
Tony Evans
Tony Evans

On The Ball | Huge summer beckons for Liverpool with City, United and Chelsea primed to progress

  • Liverpool have squandered the advantage they gained after being crowned champions of Europe and England
  • It could well be a busy transfer period for the owners at Anfield

Reading Time:4 minutes
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With Georginio Wijnaldum the first out of the door in postseason, Liverpool have a big job to revamp their squad this summer. Photo: DPA
Tony Evans
Liverpool’s third-place finish in the Premier League was an unexpected positive after a season that threatened at times to spin out of control but the Champions League final in Porto put the campaign into perspective. Chelsea, who finished two points below Jurgen Klopp’s team, left Portugal with European football’s most prestigious trophy. Manchester City, runaway title winners, returned to England in defeat but with an increased determination to dominate the continent.
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Both these teams will strengthen from a position of power in the close season, something Liverpool failed to do in consecutive summers after winning the Champions League and the Premier League. Throw Manchester United into the mix and there are three clubs who will dominate the transfer market. Finishing in the top four has taken some of the pain out of a lacklustre title defence but Liverpool are still trying to fashion a fightback from a position of weakness.

Klopp’s first concern is the health of his squad. Injuries do not completely explain some of the performances of January and February but they definitely had an impact on results. Virgil van Dijk’s absence since October deprived the side of class and leadership. The Dutchman decided that he would not be ready for the Euros and Holland’s loss is Liverpool’s gain. The club are keen to extend his contract – it expires in two years – but it is vital that he returns somewhere near his pre-injury best.

Joe Gomez, the other first-choice centre half, is also a concern. He is just 24 and has already suffered two serious knee problems. That is worrying. Joel Matip is unreliable and struggles to put together a run of games. The arrival of Ibrahima Konate from Leipzig adds strength to the back line but there are a number of concerns that linger from last season. The newcomer is the only one of the front line centre backs without fitness concerns.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury in England’s 1-0 victory over Austria enraged Liverpool fans, especially after Gareth Southgate showed ambivalence in picking the 22-year-old in the squad. Yet it could work out well from an Anfield perspective if the full back misses the Euros. He should be back for the new season and the rest will do him good. Klopp will benefit from Jordan Henderson’s presence in the national side. It will give the captain a chance to sharpen his fitness after a four-month lay-off.

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