Benteke, Sterling, Gerrard – why Liverpool CAN challenge
Liverpool look set to sign Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke in an exciting swoop this summer, according to today’s report in the Liverpool Echo, and here’s five reasons the Reds now look like becoming genuine title challengers for the season ahead if they can add this deal to their other fine work so far…
1) They now have a top class striker
After losing Luis Suarez last summer, it’s been vital for Liverpool to get it right up front, and it now looks like they have – the Reds are adding a proven goalscorer to their ranks in an excellent buy. Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert were always risky purchases, but the Belgian has his best years ahead of him and is the kind of powerful and determined player up front that should give the side much more for opposition defenders to think about.
We saw last season how the immense form of Diego Costa up front for Chelsea made a big difference at Stamford Bridge after years of relying on flops like Fernando Torres, and the arrival of Benteke is the perfect finishing touch for a squad that is also improved in other areas.
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2) They also have great depth up front
As well as Benteke, Liverpool will also have Danny Ings and Divock Origi as extra options to choose from up front next season. Plus, if Daniel Sturridge can remain more injury free after a nightmare campaign last year, that will be an incredible list of forwards for Brendan Rodgers to have in his ranks. It’s worth remembering that Ings and Origi are among the finest young attackers in Europe at the moment and have really caught the eye at their previous clubs in recent times, and this healthy competition will surely help each striker bring the best out of each other, as well as providing Rodgers with the backup he needs after such difficulty fielding Sturridge as often as he’d like.
3) Sterling and Gerrard exits should help
Two players who were more of a distraction than they were worth last season, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling both leaving Anfield can give Liverpool something of a fresh start. Gerrard’s exit was always going to be difficult to handle, with the club legend rightly phased out of the side after passing his peak some time ago. Meanwhile, Sterling’s contract situation won’t have helped the team focus on matters on the pitch. With some great signings in their place, Liverpool should soon find that they won’t miss either player very much at all.
4) Firmino is a top young talent
After some outstanding performances for Hoffenheim down the years, Roberto Firmino looks the real deal and should instantly make an impact for Liverpool in 2015/16. The 23-year-old Brazilian can play in a variety of attacking midfield roles and is exactly the kind of creative provider that the club’s wealth of new strikers can feed off to good effect. There will be inevitable comparisons with his fellow countryman Philippe Coutinho, and it cannot be played down that those two could have real chemistry playing together, with Firmino hoping he can achieve the same great things as his colleague has at Anfield.
5) They have an improved midfield
As already noted, Gerrard leaving is good for the club in terms of giving them a fresh start free from sentiment next season, but there’s also the superb addition of James Milner on a free transfer from Manchester City. The experienced England midfielder was superb for City last season, becoming more and more of a key player as the campaign went on, contributing eight goals (his best tally since 2009/10, when he scored 12 for Aston Villa). As well as that, the 29-year-old is a hard worker, a good passer, and is still playing at his peak, unlike Gerrard.
As well as that, there could now be more of a place for outstanding youngster Emre Can to move into midfield, having alternated between that position and various roles in the defence last season. Still, the 21-year-old is probably best suited to an anchor role in the middle of the park, and could start there if Milner ends up being used in a wide role, or if Rodgers plays three in the middle. Either way, the team looks much stronger in that department.