Tag Archives: Liverpool

3 reasons why Liverpool won’t struggle next year after Rodgers signs a new deal

Brendan Rodgers has been handed a new four year deal as a reward for leading Liverpool back to the Champions League. Whilst many are predicting a difficult season for them next year, in contrast I feel as though there are reasons for their fans to be hopeful.

1. Young talent still waiting to come through

Raheem Sterling’s emergence this season has demonstrated the ability of Liverpool’s manager to get the best out of players with potential, but John Flanagan’s form in the latter stages of the season shows he’s also able to improve unfancied talents.

Liverpool have a handful of players who could still break through the ranks, including Fabio Borini, who returns after a very successful loan spell at Sunderland. A season at Anfield where he is not necessarily the “main man” could be to his benefit.

The talent with the most hype behind him in the academy is definitely Jordon Ibe, a pacey youngster cut from a similar mould to Sterling. Ibe has more in the way of raw pace and could offer a good alternative next season. He scored 3 goals at the weekend against Montenegro for England’s Under 19s. Where Sterling has impressed through the middle, Ibe is a classic winger.

He could be afforded opportunities to impress in the League Cup and FA Cup, given Liverpool’s new challenge in Europe.

2. The ability to attract better talent

Watching Man Utd’s recent struggles in the transfer market shows that the best in the world are still primarily attracted by the idea of Champions League football.

With Liverpool’s qualification, and guaranteed qualification at that, they will be able to get more for every pound they spend. Their signings last summer were symbolic of the problem with not being in the Champions League – often a manager has to take a punt on a player because he is out of favour at his club, with mixed results.

Mamadou Sakho played well at times, but Liverpool could probably now replace him with a better player for less money, given the raw attraction of Europe, and the desire from players to be a part of any future success.

Success, after all, begets success.

3. Brendan Rodgers himself

What is Brendan Rodgers if not a modern manager? His ability to alter Liverpool’s game plan over the course of a game and for each individual game demonstrates his intelligence.

Much like his fellow former Swansea manager Roberto Martinez, he can get more out of a whole than the sum of their parts. He knows why a player might succeed in a certain position against a certain man, and often exploits it for the best.

Whilst the last four games showed his relative naivety, he will probably learn from the experience, as all good managers do. After all, Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd fell apart in 1992 when challenging for the title before he won their first title in many-a-year the following season.

Barcelona open to offers for Javier Mascherano

@awinehouse1

Guillem Balague is reporting that Barcelona are open to offers for former Liverpool man Javier Mascherano, which could put Liverpool and Arsenal on red alert.

Mascherano joined Barcelona a few years ago from Liverpool, and has played regularly for Barça since, primarily in the centre of defence. Luis Enrique’s arrival has apparently called an end to his time at the Nou Camp, however, with Los Blaugranas seeking to move him on. At times this season, his unnaturalness in defence has been obvious, with the Catalan side regularly shipping goals against the weaker sides in the league.

Arsenal could see Mascherano as the answer to a problematic situation which could see several defensive minded players leave the club.

Barcelona are also apparently open to offers for Dani Alves, Adriano, Alexis Sanchez (who scored a world class strike against Atletico at the weekend) and Pedro, who is one of few players to emerge from their season with credit.

Liverpool’s move for Emre Can threatened by legal battle

@awinehouse1

A possible legal battle between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich could threaten Liverpool’s proposed £10 million signing of Emre Can, according to reports.

His contract includes a release clause, which Liverpool expect to match, but Bayern also inserted a buy-back clause into the terms of his transfer. At the time of his sale, Bayern stated that they expected to sign him back at some point in the future.

There has not, as of yet, been any contact between Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen regarding the clause, but the issue surrounds the two conflicting deals between Emre Can and Leverkusen and the second deal between Bayer and Bayern themselves. Bayern’s clause would remain active throughout any transfer process, in spite of any interest from elsewhere.

Rogers and Liverpool are keen to make Can their first signing of the window, with the versatile 20-year old considered an important addition to a squad set to take part in the Champions League. The fear now is that should Bayern express an interest and meet the terms of their buy-back clause, Liverpool would be cast aside.