Predictions for 2018/19 Season

Its taken some effort but Liverpool have reinforced their role as pantomime villains for most football fans in the country. But it’s probably not their fault. Oh yes it is.

Their season last time out ended in disappointment all round but they have added some midfield reinforcements. That of course is the downside of gegenpressing – the ability not only to sustain it throughout a match for 90 minutes but to sustain it throughout a whole season.

During some matches last season they looked tired and leggy and the jury is out as to whether the reinforcements so far will have improved their chances. Whilst gegenpressing can have an impact on teams who seek to control the ball, it had little impact on some teams who counter intuitively sought to sit back and wait.

Fabinho and Naby Keita signings will improve Jordan Henderson, while Xherdan Shaqiri will help their attacking threat from the bench.

The defensive frailties at Liverpool continue as their concussed goalkeeper (I’m still not sure how many games he was concussed for last season) seem destined to start the new campaign. They have flirted with Alisson of Roma and Jack Butland but no additions in that department have been made.

The squad continues to look thin despite the additions and injuries to key players could derail the campaign between transfer windows. It will be a distinct advantage for Liverpool to have had so few players in the later stages of the World Cup and they should be able to get off the blocks quickly.

In those first eight fixtures, Liverpool have Spurs and Chelsea away and Man City at home. Plus there is the potential banana skin of West Ham on the first day of the season.

Its my view those first eight games will see some mixed results for Liverpool but if they were able to amass maximum points then maybe it could really be their year.