Liverpool certainly brought a smile to many fans with their signings this summer. Alisson, Fabinho and Naby Keita more or less fixed our problems in the midfield and in goal. Xherdan Shaqiri seems to be a quality player that can do the job in a few positions.
The Reds haven’t sold many players either, so there is a real sense of competition for almost every spot in the team.
Liverpool haven’t had the luxury of quality squad players for a few years but now, it does feel like every position in the club has someone who can step up for a few games should someone from our starting XI miss out due to injury or suspension.
For every Roberto Firmino, we have a Daniel Sturridge or a Dominic Solanke. For every Fabinho, we have a James Milner or a Georginio Wijnaldum, and the list goes on.
The Reds, however, might have to take a few tough decisions come the end of the season.
While the new boys will have a greater chance of staying at the club, there would be some cuts next season if Klopp decides to freshen things up or increase the quality.
This is not to say that these players will not be of enough quality in the coming seasons but here are three Liverpool stars that might have to prove their worth this campaign or risk being sold in the future.
Daniel Sturridge
It certainly came as a surprise to me that the Englishman was set to stay at Anfield.
The Daily Star claims that Jurgen Klopp will give him one final chance to save his Anfield career and the boss was quoted by as saying:
“Who doubts Daniel Sturridge when he’s fit? I don’t. He’s an outstanding player, hopefully he can stay fit and then the future is bright.”
Well, Sturridge has looked fit in the pre-season games we played. There is a very slim possibility that he will be starting more games than Firmino for us this season but the Englishman does have a lot of talent.
Sturridge’s loan to West Brom did not work out last season but he still could do a decent job for us if he stays fit.
However, should he get injured as he has done throughout Klopp’s time at the club, it could mean goodbye for the Englishman.
Dominic Solanke is waiting on the wings to play more games and the competition is heavy for the striker’s role in the team.
Georginio Wijnaldum
There was always going to be some concern for the midfielders in the side after the arrival of Fabinho and Keita. The pair should be starting games for us as they give us everything we have been missing.
This is not to say that the Dutch international has not been a decent player for us. Wijnaldum has done what we have asked him to but he has never excelled as one of the best.
Unlike James Milner, who performed admirably as a left-back and then did a superb job in the midfield when a number of players were out injured, Wijnaldum has always given us 6/10s or 7/10s but not 9/10s.
The 27-year-old is not getting younger and there will be a lot of competition for the midfield slots in the coming years.
Wijnaldum played 35 games for us in all competitions last season but scored just a single goal with two assists to his name.
The former Newcastle man is a decent squad player but it might be better for us to give chances to youngsters rather than the 27-year-old.
Wijnaldum could still come good this season but the signs from the previous campaigns don’t point to that.
Adam Lallana
“Last season was so stop-start that it was more or less written off.”
That was Adam Lallana speaking to the Liverpool Echo in pre-season as the Englishman started just one Premier League game for us last campaign.
Lallana is one of the most gifted players in the Liverpool team and his energy makes him a fan favourite. However, an unfit Lallana is of no use to the side and this season could be make or break for him.
The 30-year-old is someone who cannot do a lot of running on the pitch and has to be used wisely by Klopp. But there is a chance he can come good given that he had a lot of time to rest last season.
The previous campaign was a disaster for Lallana as he picked up an injury in pre-season and never really came back into the team.
There has also been a major doubt about which position is the best for Lallana and now we seem to have the right men for our midfield, while our attack is set with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane out wide.
The former Southampton man is not a part of the first XI at Liverpool right now due to the new players in the team but he could do a decent job in a few cup games.
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However, there are a lot of youth players at Liverpool and if Lallana doesn’t prove his worth, he could be forced to make way for another rising player.
