Liverpool ended the summer transfer window having made just one signing in the form of centre-back Ibrahima Konate, whose move from RB Leipzig was confirmed way back in May.
The Reds, unlike Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea among some clubs, weren’t active on Tuesday’s transfer deadline day. They went into the deadline day with plenty to do in terms of offloading some of their fringe players but to no avail.
Certainly, Jurgen Klopp would have wanted to add more players to his squad given how the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City improved their squads over the summer. Liverpool’s lack of transfer business hasn’t affected the team’s performances though, with Jurgen Klopp and co. enjoying a bright start to the new Premier League campaign.
And the Reds will be pumped given the return of the fans to the stadium. Many pundits argued that the team most affected by the lack of fans in the stadium in the last year and a half were Liverpool and given how their formidable home record took a nosedive not many can argue against it.
But not just the Premier League, with sports around the world now on the path to recovery after being decimated by the coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, not only stadium going fans but armchair fans have some exciting competitions and matches to look forward to. From the NFL to college football betting, boxing to UFC and Grand Slam tennis to the Challenger Tour, there’s something for everyone.
Coming back to the Reds, two wins and a draw before going into the season’s first international break represents a healthy beginning to the season, as Klopp aims to reclaim the Premier League title from Manchester City.
Without further ado, here are three hits and flops for the Reds till now.
Hits
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold, much like his Liverpool teammates, had an underwhelming last season. He struggled with injuries and was surprisingly left out of the England squad for the European championships.
But, with the start of the new Premier League campaign, the Liverpool right-back seems to have found back his lost mojo. Alexander-Arnold, 22, has been excellent in the first three games, driving forward with the ball, delivering crosses into the box and creating plenty of chances in the final third.
The England international may only have the one assist to his name – though, it was superb—but his contributions down the right have been way more than that and deserve praise.
Virgil van Dijk
There were questions marks regarding how Virgil van Dijk would cope again with the high-intensity of Premier League football after a 10-month absence due to an ACL injury, but boy he’s come back stronger than ever!
The Dutchman, 30, arguably the best defender in Europe in recent years, has played every minute, in which the Reds have conceded one goal in three games. In what was his season’s biggest challenge so far from Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, Van Dijk passed the test with flying colours as he kept the big Belgian quiet for large parts of the 1-1 draw at Anfield.
There’s every right for the Liverpool fans to be excited about him considering the way the centre-half has started the 2021/22 campaign.
Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota has started the new season well with two goals in three games, and is perhaps one of the few players who hasn’t let his performance levels dip in the last season or so, when fit.
The Portuguese international is extremely versatile, capable of playing anywhere along the front-line, and he’s the kind of hard-working, aggressive and tenacious forward every manager would love to have in the squad.
Flops
Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino’s form for Liverpool has dipped massively over the last couple of years, and while he chipped in with a few crucial goals at the back end of last season to help Klopp’s side clinch a third-place finish, his place in Klopp’s starting XI remains under threat.
Yes, the Brazilian is the mastermind that helps the Reds’ potent front-three tick, but realistically, his diminishing impact on games and the arrival of Jota from Wolves last season is a matter of concern.
Firmino was recalled for his first start this season against Chelsea but made little influence on the game and was hooked off three minutes before half-time, seemingly with a hamstring problem. At the moment, he looks way off from really recapturing his old form.
Thiago Alcantara
Despite the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum, Liverpool made no midfield reinforcements hoping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara will step up and fill that void. However, that hasn’t been the case; instead, teenage prodigy Harvey Elliot has been favoured by Klopp in midfield and he has repaid the manager’s faith.
As far as Thiago is concerned, he has failed to hit the heights expected of him at Liverpool. He had a difficult debut season, with a combination of Covid-19 and a knee injury back in September 2020 keeping him sidelined until late December.
The Spaniard made substitute appearances against Burnley and Chelsea and really needs to up his game to become a regular starter at the club.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has played just once so far this season, completing 61 minutes in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Norwich. The 28-year-old has since missed the game with Burnley and was an unused substitute against Chelsea.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s time at Anfield has been badly hampered by injuries, and while he has enjoyed a first full pre-season camp with the Reds, Klopp not using the midfielder against Chelsea is pretty much a head scratcher.
It’ll be harsh to judge him by just one performance this season, but considering the emergence of Harvey Elliot and the revival in Naby Keita’s form, he’s certainly going to find himself more on the bench again if his performances don’t improve.