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Can Liverpool Retain the Title?

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It only feels like a few minutes ago that Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was lifting the Premier League trophy in that rather bizarre Anfield presentation, but here we are talking already about their chance of retaining the crown. Can they maintain the impressive intensity that has been their hallmark over the previous two seasons? Or will Man City or big-spending Chelsea steal their thunder?

To be honest, no one expected Liverpool to make a title challenge last season. They had just come off the back of an impressive Champions League win and a ridiculously intense Premier League campaign that saw them miss out on the league title by a single point. What followed was a summer transfer window with no significant signings whatsoever. Surely this was the beginning of the end of a beautiful run of form.

Yet we were all so very wrong. Klopp and his charges kept up that blistering pace and won the Premier League at a canter. But surely another window of inactivity would see them run out of steam, right? Thankfully for reds fans, the club have been opened the purse strings with signing of Takumi Minamino in the winter transfer window followed by Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, and Diogo Jota in the summer.

Football fans with an eye for long-term bets on the English Premier League will know that despite Man City’s status as favourites, Liverpool are a pretty safe bet. Those signings have given the team a strength in depth that was somewhat lacking in the last two seasons. Yes, Origi has proven his worth time and time again, but as a consistent back-up to any of the front three, he just isn’t reliable enough.

The Thiago effect

It was the most drawn out transfer saga of an admittedly short summer break, but Liverpool and Thiago were finally brought together just before the trip to Stamford Bridge. He went straight into the squad but even he must have been surprised to be brought on at halftime as a result of a minor injury to Henderson.

What followed was a masterclass in midfield passing. Of course, some will feel that Kenny Cunningham’s assertion that Thiago cannot tackle will have been justified thank to the penalty he gave away, but that aside, he played some astounding football. In fact, it’s hard to remember a signing for any club that integrated into the team so well after only one day with his new teammates.

It’s this lack of a midfielder that can unlock defences that has been missing from the Liverpool squad. Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Fabinho are often tasked with the less glamorous midfield work while Naby Keita has shown us only glimpses of his ability. As for Oxlade Chamberlain, he has been incredibly unlucky with injuries as has Shaqiri.

But Thiago is a different player entirely. As he passed the ball with consummate ease and confidence, we had a thought; could Klopp have just discovered a way to make his front three even more fearsome? Opposition defenders must shudder at the thought.

Depth in attack

That said, it’s not just about Thiago. Takumi Minamino looked completely lost when he joined the team in January. He failed to have any significant impact on the pitch and looked really out of his depth. But his performances in preseason and the community shield have shown us what Klopp saw in him. Like Andy Robertson and Fabinho before him, all he needed was a little time to bed in and settle in his new surroundings.

Minamino is joined by Wolves forward Diogo Jota which was something of a surprise for all reds fans. Many expected Ismaïla Sarr to join but instead we saw Michael Edwards strike a deal for Jota. It was certainly unexpected, but it was a masterstroke. This is a player with proven premier league experience who could hit the ground running and easily slot in across the front three. Suddenly, an attack that seemed overly dependent on Salah, Firmino, and Mané has some seriously good backup options. Not only that, but with Minamino and Jota both a few years younger than the current front three, the future looks bright for Liverpool.

So can they retain the title? It would be foolish person that would back anyone other than Liverpool or City and many would simply stick with Pep’s machine. However, those signings have given Liverpool both a strength in depth and a different attacking outlet that could be just enough to see them hold off the challenge of City.

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