Many of Liverpool’s summer signings have endured a difficult start to the year…
Liverpool spent in excess of £100m this summer on nine signings aimed at enhancing their squad ahead of their return to Champions League football.
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As can be expected, there have been some hits, and some misses so far. CaughtOffside evaluates those players progress so far:
9) Adam Lallana
Is the weight of expectation getting to Liverpool’s £25m summer signing? He was virtually non-existent on his hour-long debut against Aston Villa last weekend, and missed an incredible chance to score in his first Champions League appearance on Tuesday. He will need to be given time following his injury issues, but he still needs to improve quickly.
8) Divock Origi
Could the Reds regret sending the teenager out on loan, leaving Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini as the club’s only back-up forward players. The youngster has found the net twice for Lille so far this season, twice more than either Lambert or Borini has done for Liverpool.
7) Rickie Lambert
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Rickie Lambert, who just looks out of his depth at Liverpool. At Southampton he was the main man, the star player who was the inspiration behind so many victories and two promotions. He is not accustomed to his new role as an impact substitute. He is a useful option, but needs a confidence boost and renewed faith from supporters.
6) Emre Can
After a promising start to his Liverpool career in pre-season, the German was struck down my injury while on international duty, and now faces several weeks on the sidelines. Was only ever going to be a fringe player for the Reds this season, but will need to show what he can do later in the season, or risk going the same way as another promising young midfield player in Luis Alberto.
5) Lazar Markovic
Has been disappointingly quiet during his Liverpool appearances thus far, and needs to improve quickly to justify his £20m transfer fee. He is young, and will improve given time, but the Reds are desperate for people to stand up and be counted now, including the young Serbian.
4) Dejan Lovren
Yet to find his Southampton form in a Liverpool shirt, a plight not helped by the worryingly poor performances of centre-back partner Mamadou Sakho, who has looked shaky since replacing the injured Martin Skrtel. The Croatian has however, shown glimpses of his ability during the early moments of his Anfield career.
3) Mario Balotelli
The Italian got off the mark in the Reds Champions League game on Tuesday, firing home with a clinical finish. Prior to his goal, he cut a frustrated figure against both Ludogorets and Aston Villa. Showed some promising link-up play alongside Daniel Sturridge during the game with Tottenham, but has since lost his strike partner to injury.
2) Javi Manquillo
The youngster on loan from Atletico Madrid will perhaps be surprised at the number of games he has got since arriving at the club. Injuries to Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan have made him a regular starter during the early part of the season, and the Spaniard has rewarded his manager’s selection with a series of solid performances.
1) Alberto Moreno
Looks to be the man to finally answer Liverpool’s long-standing issues at left-back. The Spaniard has, bar one mistake against Manchester City, been excellent thus far. His goal against Tottenham showed his quality, while he was the pick of the defenders in the Reds Champions League match on Tuesday, making several crucial interventions.
SEE ALSO: The Best Liverpool goals.