da pixbet： Liverpool’s season could effectively be over by the time calendars at Melwood flip over to March.
da betano casino： Between now and the start of the third month of 2016, the Reds face a Europa League double-header with Augsburg and a League Cup Final with Manchester City, and defeats in these games could leave them staring at just an ailing Premier League campaign following an FA Cup exit at the hands of West Ham.
This is a particularly gloomy look at what’s going on at Anfield, and there’s every chance that continental football will continue (their German opponents are in the bottom half of the Bundesliga and look a far cry from the team they were last season), while that 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium shows that this Liverpool side could be Man City’s kryptonite.
Alas, it’s only natural that some attention is already being switched to the summer transfer window, in which Jurgen Klopp is set to be backed significantly to build an ‘ambitious’ squad. January was a damp squib for the Kop side with only Steven Caulker added – Marko Grujic was quickly shipped back to Red Star Belgrade on loan – and with the defender an emergency loan signing, the German is still working with Brendan Rodgers’ players.
Liverpool’s willingness to pay £38m for Alex Teixeira ahead of the last deadline, which Klopp vetoed, shows that they are willing to back their manager, which is mightily encouraging for the 48-year-old.
With all of this in mind, here are FIVE additions for the Merseysiders to consider ahead of what could be the biggest window in the club’s recent history…
Granit Xhaka
With his agent, according to reports, having already spoken to Klopp about a summer move to Anfield, this one looks to be a possibility. Forget suggestions from the player himself that he’s keen on Manchester City – these appear to have been blown out of proportion – Xhaka looks well-suited to the sort of football the Kop chief wants to play, with his energy and aggressive approach currently missing from the Merseyside midfield.
Xhaka’s numbers this season (via Squawka) in Bundesliga action show that he’s not afraid to put a tackle in and that he wins his battles. Although he doesn’t really better any current Liverpool player in a set area, aside from interceptions, the Switzerland international scores well across the board, with his 0.4 yellow cards-per-game illustrating that he’s not afraid to get involved in the dark arts of midfield play.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Statistics can be manipulated, we all know this, but recent suggestions that Simon Mignolet’s errors in Premier League action have cost Liverpool 15 points is a worry. Granted, the Belgian is not the only line of defence the Reds possess, but his high-profile gaffes do represent a significant chunk of points dropped, even if the figure before is perhaps massaged to fit in with anti-Mignolet agenda.
Although it’s somewhat fashionable to get on the ex-Sunderland goalie’s back, it’s clear to see that he’s not helping the situation at the back at Anfield. He doesn’t ooze confidence and rarely takes command of situations, and Klopp must be aware of this. Reports of interest in Barcelona’s Ter Stegen suggest that a new stopper is something being discussed in the corridors of Melwood, and the German gloveman presents a decent option.
Ter Stegen himself is certainly the No.2 at Barca, with Claudio Bravo cemented as the man to play in La Liga – as reflected by his rare start in the second leg of their recent Copa de Rey clash with Valencia, which they entered with a 7-0 advantage. The 23-year-old himself must be tempted to move on, and the opportunity of guaranteed game time at a high-profile club, even though Liverpool is a step down from Barca, may be appealing.
Javier Hernandez
Klopp is thought to be ‘demanding’ a summer move for Hernandez. Okay, the German is unlikely to have gone straight to the Liverpool board and issued an ultimatum regarding the Mexican striker, but it’s not unthinkable that he’s asked them to put aside the Manchester United rivalry to make a move for ‘Chicharito’. The 27-year-old’s links with Old Trafford may deter some Kopites, but since being deemed surplus to requirements up the M62, the former Chivas Guadalajara man has been spectacular at Bayer Leverkusen
At club level for the German side, Hernandez has smashed 22 goals in 26 games, a figure way beyond all of Liverpool’s orthodox striking options combined this term. The Central American has long been criticised for his poor link-up play and inability to function along up front, but Klopp could certainly use his threat in the box, with the Merseyside club currently the join-lowest scorers in the Premier League’s top nine with a meagre tally of 32.
Joel Matip
If you believe certain reports, Matip to Liverpool is a done deal. The Cameroonian is understood to have settled on terms with the Reds, rejected advances from Schalke to renew his contract and all but booked his flight to Liverpool John Lennon Airport for when his deal in Gelsenkirchen deal expires in a few months, and although he’s not as high-profile as Bundesliga stars such as Mats Hummels, the 24-year-old looks tailor-made for Klopp.
Matip’s stats (via Squawka) make for great reading, with the African star more effective in terms of winning tackles as well as making interceptions and blocks and his high fouls committed ‘score’ shows that he’s not afraid to get stuck in – a criticism aimed at Liverpool’s current options at centre-back.
Lazar Markovic
Although not strictly a ‘signing’, Markovic looks set to be added to Klopp’s ranks for 2016/17. The Serbian winger endured a difficult debut season at Anfield before being shipped off to Fenerbahce on loan for the entirety of the current campaign, and his abilities look to be akin to those the Kop chief is missing.
Klopp is known to like pace and direct running from wide, and aside from the hot and cold Jordon Ibe, the ex-Dortmund boss just hasn’t had the options available to him to utilise that area of the pitch.
Markovic may have a lot to prove, but let’s not forget he’s a £20m player and has long been touted as one of the best youngsters in Europe. At 21, he has time on his hands, too.