Will Liverpool Mount a Serious Title Challenge this Season?
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The new Premier League campaign is just weeks away as teams aim to wrap up their transfer business ahead of the 2018/19 season.
One team who have been making all the headlines for their transfer dealings is Liverpool. The 2017/18 Champions League runners-up have been keen to build on their European exploits last season.
Jurgen Klopp has spent big money on players this summer. Having spent a club record £75 million to sign central defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January, Liverpool have added Naby Keita for a fee believed to be in excess of £50 million, Fabinho has arrived from Monaco in a deal that could be worth more than £40 million and Xherdan Shaqiri has joined for £13 million.
However, despite spending big on the four players above, the main talking point this summer has been the arrival of Alisson from Roma.
The Brazilian goalkeeper arrived at Anfield for a fee of £66.8 million, the biggest amount ever spent on a keeper. Having seen Loris Karuis mistakes in the Champions League final and his error in a preseason game, Klopp clearly felt he had to make a move.
For a manager who was quick to criticise others for their spending, it was a surprise to see the German splash the cash for a goalkeeper in such an exuberant fashion. In an interview following the arrival of Alisson, Klopp said, “Better players than we already have are not waiting around the corner. You can't get the world-class goalkeeper who had a really long contract at Roma on a free transfer.”
The question is, will the money spent by Klopp transfer into a title winning season for Liverpool?
There is no doubt the players brought in will improve the team. Keita and Fabinho has been on the radar of Premier League clubs for some time and should improve the central midfield. Shaqiri is unlikely to be a regular starter in the big games for Liverpool but will become an important player when Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are rested or injured.
Alisson is the Brazilian number one and will be an improvement on the current goalkeeping options at the club. In truth, there are many goalkeepers who would have been an improvement on the current options at Liverpool but Klopp has gone big and made a statement by signing Alisson.
The loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a blow but Liverpool look stronger than last season. The problem is their main issue will not be their own advances, it will be the results of Manchester City.
Liverpool could win 5 more games than they did last season, earning them 15 more points and still finish behind Manchester City. If Pep Guardiola’s team start where they left off last season, it’s difficult to imagine anyone catching them.
Liverpool have invested a lot of money in players which could lift them above Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Moving above Manchester City is a different matter and while progress could be made, winning the Premier League title may remain a dream for Liverpool fans again this season.
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