New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp rolled into Anfield last October on a wave of optimism and because of the work he’s previously done with Mainz & Dortmund that air of optimism still exists around Anfield. He brought Liverpool to two finals last season but lost both and has a win % of slightly over 44%. After finishing 8th last season lesser managers might already be under pressure but not our Jurgen. When Liverpool performed poorly last season it was often said that it wasn’t Klopp’s team but that excuse will not cut the mustard this season as he has already been backed in the transfer market and will be backed further. One thing is already clear and that is that if Liverpool are to succeed this season a lot of it will be down to Klopp as Liverpool’s signings do not currently appear to be of the calibre of their rivals although this is to be expected. But that’s enough about Klopp, let’s take a look at three of his four signings to date.
For Liverpool’s pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Liverpool Pre-season info
Loris Karius (£5.0m)
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[/three_fourth]Any team which harbours top 4 ambitions cannot expect to finish there having kept just 11 clean sheets and conceding a total of 50 goals over the course of the past season. Little wonder then with stats like those that Liverpool finished 8th! So it came as no surprise when Jurgen Klopp returned to his homeland to bring in 23 year old Loris Karius from Mainz. With Simon Mignolet having penned a new 5 year deal only back in January it is not a guarantee that Karius will go straight into the starting XI but anyone who witnessed Mignolet’s performances last season will not be surprised should Karius start against Arsenal in GW1. Indeed he has even revealed that Klopp has persuaded him to miss the Olympics so that he is available for Liverpool’s opening games.
So what do we know about the German? At 16 he joined Manchester City and at 18 moved on loan to Mainz before making that a permanent move in January 2012. Last season he kept nine clean sheets which might not sound like a lot but only the top 3 clubs had a better defensive record, Mainz finished 6th. He’s said to possess good composure with the ball at his feet, is adept at dealing with crosses and shows a good command of his area. Three things which Mignolet struggled with last season! With it being unclear as to whether the German will start the season there is every chance that he will be priced reasonably and could yet end up being the cheapest route into the Liverpool defence. He’s certainly one to keep an eye on over the course of pre-season.
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Joel Matip (£5.5)
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[/three_fourth]Liverpool’s defensive stats from last season make for such depressing reading that Jurgen Klopp was always going to bring in reinforcements. In fact he started his rebuilding work back in February when Cameroonian international Joel Matip signed on a pre-contract from Schalke. While there were plenty of individual errors made by the Liverpool defence last season a bigger worry was the fact that there was no obvious centre back partnership with Dejan Lovren making 24 league appearances, Mamadou Sakho making 21 and Martin Skrtel also making 21. With Skrtel set to depart for pastures new, Matip will compete with Lovren, Sakho and youngster Joe Gomez for a starting spot. Liverpool have been linked with a number of other centre backs since the season ended and with the news that both Sakho & Gomez are set to miss the start of the season I suspect we will see another centre back arrive at Anfield, the quality & experience of this individual may be determined by how long Sakho & Gomez will be out for. So what do we know about Matip? He made his first team debut for Schalke back in November ’09, scoring an equaliser against a Bayern Munich team managed by Old Trafford favourite LVG. He made a total of 20 appearances in the 2009/10 season the majority of which came as a midfield anchor. His versatility saw him play a variety of roles the following season. However don’t let this versatility fool you as he has unquestionably been bought as a centre back. At just under 6’ 4” he should have no issues adapting to life in the Premier League, while he’s also quite pacey which means he should work quite well in a high line. From a fantasy perspective he’s clearly got an eye for goal scoring 17 times in 194 league appearances. Will he start against Arsenal? Obviously we’ll learn more about him over the course of pre-season but I suspect he’ll start particularly as Sakho will miss the start of the season.
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Sadio Mane (£9.0m)
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[/three_fourth]Had someone asked you at the end of last season to name the one position which Liverpool did not need to strengthen I suspect there’s an excellent chance you would have said attacking midfield. So what do Liverpool do? They go out and spend a reported £34m on Sadio Mane, an attacking midfielder. I’m not one to question Jurgen Klopp but was Mane really needed? Only time will tell but I suppose they had to buy at least one Southampton player! Mane made his professional debut with Metz back in 2012 before moving to Red Bull Salzburg in August of the same year and it was during his two years in Austria that people began to take notice of his performances. He scored 45 goals from 87 appearances in all competitions. This saw him move to Southampton and while his stats in England were never going to match his Austrian stats they have still been quite impressive. In his first season in the Premier League he finished up with 13 goals and nine assists in all completions and improved on that last season with 15 and nine assists. While there is clearly an argument that Mane wasn’t needed at Anfield that’s not to say that he won’t make them a more dangerous attacking force next season. His pace and directness will add something to the team that was clearly missing last season. Klopp is likely to adopt either 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opposition and Mane should fit comfortably into both systems. If I were a betting man my money would be on Firmino, Coutinho & Mane operating behind a lone striker. Which of the 3 proves most popular in FPL is likely to be dictated by price, at least in the beginning. As we saw at the back end of last season Klopp is not averse to rotation but with no European football to contend with this season I don’t see rotation being a major issue this coming season.
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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**NEW ARTICLE**
Wonderful write-up Kop, many thanks. There’s a fair to middling chance that all 3 of these start the first game. Mane’s price will be interesting. Poor old Cookie though eh, another TT ‘mate’ gone by the wayside in the form of Mignolet.
I can’t believe it – #savemigs
Cheers Init
Great stuff Kop man – lovely write up, though it’s always sad to see another three careers ruined, but c’est la vie 😉
Only joking. I wonder if Mane can deal with the move – if he can then we know what he can achieve and could be a real FPL goldmine.
Cheers Cookie. With regards to Mane he’s made the step up with each of the 3 moves he’s made to date. Now that doesn’t mean he’ll settle in immediately at Liverpool but it dos me an element of confidence.
The only thing I’d worry about is temperament – he was never far away from a strop at Southampton and can’t see Klopp accepting that – but maybe he knuckles down – he should do as this is a massive chance for him.
That is potentially an issue alright. I can’t see Klopp accepting that but I wouldn’t have thought Koeman would have accepted it either.
That’s true though he was a bigger fish in a smaller pond at Southampton, whereas he’s a smaller fish in a slightly bigger pond now. If you get me and my ponds. And fishes.
Here we go again Kop great write up I would say not bad signing but I thk you could do with a left sided def , I thk Firmino should do well this season. They have a tough start to the season so I wont probably go with any from the of.
You can get 10/1 on the Pool to win the league might have a sneaky bet 😉
Don’t waste your money!!
I was thinking of doing a top 4 bet for us this year Silvers did look at an each way bet to win the league but I don’t really see us finishing 1st or 2nd
No Matt didn’t chk the e/w bets I thk the Pool will do well this yr I thk you need a proper holding MF & a left back stick one on to win 😉
Yeah I fancy Liverpool to be challenging for the top 4 but I think top spot will be City’s this year. I agree with you as for signings though a holding mid is needed especially if Lucas does leave as he’s the only proper one I feel and the LB position I wouldn’t mind too much as I was watching the Fleetwood game the other day and Moreno and Mane down the left was amazing they will cause nightmares for RB’s so maybe Klopp can rework his tactics that whenever Moreno attacks Lovren pulls over into a more left sided position, Matip central and Clyne right so it’s a back 3. That’s why I feel DM is important as then if Clyne also goes wandering the 2 CB’s split and the DM drops back to make the back 3 but thats logic that Liverpool don’t follow haha 😉
Great read this Kop cheers mate, I just want to ask how come everyone forgets about Grujic? Silvers didn’t have him in the list he had yesterday and you don’t have him today, am I wrong in thinking he’s not a new signing or something?
Hey Matt, as I mentioned in the intro I was only looking at 3 of our 4 new signings the 4th being Grujic
The reason I omitted him was that I don’t see him in the starting XI. Now obviously if he continues to impress as he did against Fleetwood he could force his way into the team. Although I’m not getting carried away as it was only Fleetwood 😉
Yeah I get you I was just thinking that since we’ve seen what Mane can do and most probably don’t know Grujic if would have been better to get some info on him but you’re right he probably won’t start so it doesn’t matter I suppose haha
Thanks for the info Kop, I must say , as a long time admirer of Mignolet, I am a touch concerned. Think I will start a petition to get the German keeper to Rio.
Sorry Mito but apparently he’s already said no to going to Rio
Kop,
Thank you for the spotlight article on the new lads at Anfield. I enjoyed reading that and had all the relevant stats, well pot together pal.
I hope they sign Jonas Hector from Cologne to solve that LB problem. I take what Matt said in that he might have shown well the other night but from what I’ve seen of Hector, Moreno isn’t near his level.
I’m optimistic for the new season for Liverpool. Well they have the perfect managerial fit in my mind and with no European distractions and although not stellar, three potentially good signings in, I’m convinced they are going to do well this season.
Cheers GP.
Jonas Hector would be an excellent addition to our squad but I suspect there will be a number of clubs interested in him. As for Moreno, he’s simply not good enough.
As for my expectations for the season ahead, I would like to think we’ll still be in the hunt for a top 4 position come mid April.