Liverpool 2016-17: Klopp's Kop

[SoxFanInCali]

No club will have more players (12) involved in Euro 2016 than Liverpool (Juventus also has a dozen).

England: Sturridge, Milner, Henderson, Clyne, Lallana.
Belgium: Origi, Benteke, Mignolet
Wales: Allen, Ward (yeah, Ward is the the backup keeper for Wales, but he still counts in this exercise)
Germany: Can
Slovakia: Skrtel

In addition, Sakho would have been in the France squad if he hadn't been suspended, and Lovren is only missing from Croatia because of a row with the manager. Coutinho is also in the Brazil squad for Copa America. So there is some quality there that was shown at times last season, but clearly there are a few positions that can be upgraded and more consistency is needed. Loris Karius will push (and perhaps replace) Mignolet, Marko Grujić is in the mix for playing time in the midfield, Joel Matip could be in the lineup immediately depending on Sakho's status, Gomez and Ings are healthy again and will get chances to impress, and every German player that transfers this summer will be at some point rumored to be coming to the Reds. And yes, Mario Balotelli is still on the books.

There will be 3 friendlies in the US this summer, with them making it out to the West Coast this time.

vs. Chelsea - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, July 27th.
vs. AC Milan - Levis Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, July 30th
vs. Roma - Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO, August 1st

They also will take on Barcelona at Wembley on August 6th, and play Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town in July friendlies before the US trip.

No European football is disappointing, but may be a blessing in disguise given Liverpool had to play 63 games last season (20 more than Leicester City). We will see if playing fewer matches helps with injuries or consistency.

The league schedule will come out June 15th, with Liverpool requesting to start on the road in order to maximize time available to finish stadium renovations. Anfield's capacity will rise to approximately 54,000, adding about 8,500 seats and some modern amenities such as larger changing rooms, more concessions, and a bigger club shop.

There's a lot of work to be done, but it's fun having a manager that gives me hope that better days are ahead.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Daniel Agger retired today. Oh, if only he had been able to stay healthy...

 

[kbourdon]

I can't wait to see who we bring in after Copa America and the Euros. Klopp was at the argentina chile game with Higuain's brother, who is also his agent. Klopp left after he was subbed off. As for the Cavani speculation it would be a little far streched because he is getting old and he plays for PSG. Granted he doesn't get a whole lot of playing time, but the club is going to ask a lot for him.

 

[SocrManiac]

Echo is reporting that Toure will be released today. Must be some irons in the fire- he's nice depth. I wouldn't want to see him start regularly, but he's clearly a valuable character guy.

 

[cjdmadcow]

First three away fixtures - Arsenal, Spurs & Chelsea - plus a possibility that our first home game vs Burnley will be switched to allow work to complete on the main stand refurb, which would mean our only home game in the first five fixtures would be Champions Leicester City.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Looks like Škrtel is off to Fenerbahçe for £5.5m

All things considered, a good price to get for him at age 31. Good servant for the club but became a huge liability by the end of his tenure. I'll most miss having an excuse to use the Š character.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

His time had come, but I'll miss the big lug and his Ethnic Cleanser look. 7 goals in the title near-miss season would have made him a legend forever if they had pulled it off.

 

[nolasoxfan]

Black away kit?

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Mane had his medical today, his signing seems imminent. It wouldn't be a transfer window if Liverpool didn't sign someone from Southampton.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Oh, and apparently John Arne Riise recently tried beer for the first time.

 

[JayMags71]

Mane had his medical today, his signing seems imminent. It wouldn't be a transfer window if Liverpool didn't sign someone from Southampton.

BBC is reporting a £34M fee. If true, that seems like a wild overpay.

 

[SocrManiac]

Hate the signing. I don't see him as a significant upgrade in an area where there's already a glut of talent. It's not a depth move without Europe.

Biggest net positive is he doesn't get to play against LFC anymore since he's been a bogey of late.

 

[teddykgb]

I don't think 34m is really all that much anymore. There's a chance he'll be very good in Klopp's style and I think players like Mane thrive when given space to operate in. I'm not certain it'll move the needle but there's a chance it will. That's probably worth 34m at this point.

 

[kbourdon]

I can't wait to see Mane play for LFC. He will help out when either sSurridge or Benteke is out. What I would like to see is Klopp build up the backline. I also can't wait to see Karius in net, he is a lot better than Mingolet.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I don't think there's any chance Benteke survives the summer as a Red. He's probably 4th choice striker now .. and 6th if you include Firmino and Mane.

They will sell him to the highest bidder .. One suspects in the 20-25 million pound range

 

[soxfan121]

They will sell him to the highest bidder .. One suspects in the 20-25 million pound range

I do not understand how 34 is a lot for Mane but "20-25" is reasonable to expect for the 4th or 6th choice striker.

EPL player valuations are crazy, yo.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I do not understand how 34 is a lot for Mane but "20-25" is reasonable to expect for the 4th or 6th choice striker.

EPL player valuations are crazy, yo.

Well .. I think Benteke is still a very good striker .. He might still be worth what they paid for him. But given his current status in the pecking order you have to expect quite a bit less .. any team getting Benteke for less than 20m is doing very good business IMO.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Plus, this isn't like the old days where only 4 or 5 teams can afford to drop 20 million on a player. 20 million is essentially what 6 or 7 million was a few years ago in the market.

 

[teddykgb]

I'd be very surprised if you can recoup that much money on him. Bony is essentially the same type of asset and I'd bite someone's hand off for 15

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Bony is 2 years removed from his form, but your point stands. £15-17m for Benteke is solid at this point.

Re: the new market norm, couldn't be more accurate. Who'd have thought 2 years ago that Batshuyai would turn down Palace for €38m?

 

[SoxFanInCali]

About a decade ago Liverpool's record signing was 14 million GBP for Djibril Cisse. I'm not sure if he's in the top 20 anymore.

 

[swiftaw]

About a decade ago Liverpool's record signing was 14 million GBP for Djibril Cisse. I'm not sure if he's in the top 20 anymore.

Maybe just about top 20. The 16th most expensive was at 16 million. (I found a pre-Mane list of the top 15):
Player Fee Date
Andy Carroll £35,000,000 31 January 2011
Mane, 34 million
Christian Benteke £32,500,000 22 July 2015
Roberto Firmino £29,000,000 * 6 July 2015
Adam Lallana £25,000,000 * 1 July 2014
Luis Suarez £22,800,000 31 January 2011
Fernando Torres £20,200,000 4 July 2007
Dejan Lovren £20,000,000 * 27 July 2014
Lazar Markovic £19,800,000 15 July 2014
Robbie Keane £19,000,000 28 July 2008
Javier Mascherano £18,600,000 * 29 February 2008
Stewart Downing £18,500,000 15 July 2011
Glen Johnson £17,500,000 26 June 2009
Alberto Aquilani £17,100,000 * 7 August 2009
Jordan Henderson £16,000,000 * 9 June 2011
Mario Balotelli £16,000,000 25 August 2014

 

[67YAZ]

Palace table £25m offer for Benteke. Liverpool have rejected it, but the sides continue to bargain.

I know the pound is down these days, but that's not an I offer I would reject.

 

[candylandriots]

Palace table £25m offer for Benteke. Liverpool have rejected it, but the sides continue to bargain.

I know the pound is down these days, but that's not an I offer I would reject.

Yeah, as the resident Palace fan here, I kind of feel like they could spend £25 million better than on Benteke. I'm not sure on whom, but Mkhitaryian seems a better deal for £26 million.

Of course, Selhurst Park isn't as attractive a destination as Man U.

 

[67YAZ]

Palace up their offer to an initial £27m with another £4.5 in potential add ons. I can't imagine they'll turn this down.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Aaron Ramsey has been given until August 1 to report to Arsenal, with Koscielny, Ozil, and Giroud all getting at least as much time off. All are going to be major doubts for the opener.

Starting off with Arsenal B wouldn't be so bad.

 

[DLew On Roids]

In the biggest sign that the English transfer market is out of control since Watford turned down 30M for Troy Deeney, Liverpool have accepted Bournemouth's 15M offer for Jordan Ibe. No word on a sell-on clause payment to Wycombe or Liverpool putting sell-on or buyback clauses in the deal.

Update: ThisIsAnfield tweeted that Wycombe get 15%, or 2.25M.

 

[soxfan121]

Ah, to be young, English, and able to run without tripping over your feet on a pitch.*

* Alternatively: young, English, and tall (Andy Carroll only).

 

[cjdmadcow]

There was talk earlier in the week about an extended contract for Jurgen, even so soon after joining the club, but I'm delighted they've already got it done and it's for 6 years as well. Great news and even better that his key backroom staff have been included as well.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/226757-jurgen-klopp-signs-extended-long-term-lfc-deal

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Even more good news ..

Sakho has been cleared !


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-defender-mamadou-sakho-free-11590482

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Pretty sweet to force him to miss the Europa final as well as eligibility for France's Euro squad while they had a slew of injuries in the back line

 

[SoxFanInCali]

First friendly was today, with Liverpool beating Tranmere Rovers 1-0 on a Danny Ings goal.

Karius, Mane, and Matip got their first game action in a Liverpool shirt, and Lazar Markovic (remember him?) came in for the second half. He collected a rebound from another Ings shot and hit the post when he had an open goal in front of him.

Balotelli, despite being back at Melwood for training, was left out of the squad. Fenerbahce are said to be interested, but he apparently prefers to play somewhere in Italy.

 

[cjdmadcow]

Ibe to Bournemouth was finally completed today as was Skrtel to Fenerbache so that's a combined £20m into the spending pot, minus the Ibe sell-on fee to Wycombe.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Joe Gomez out indefinitely with an Achilles issue. Sakho also with a month absence due to an Achilles.

Bring back Kolo

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Firmino's hair is brutal

 

[PedroSpecialK]

The interest in Wijnaldum for £20+m appears to be real:

 

[JayMags71]

Is he any good?

 

[Auger34]

The interest in Wijnaldum for £20+m appears to be real:

Would this be a good sigining? I haven't seen him play but from the limited amount I have read Wijnaldum seems sort of redundant no? An attacking midfielder, which seems to be about the only thing on the roster Liverpool doesn't need more of

 

[teddykgb]

Wijnaldum is one of those players who scores super well in metrics. Squawka stuff really rates him, you put him in versus Pogba in a comparison matrix and they're shockingly similar players. I don't know that he's that good, of course, but I think there's a useful player there.

 

[Infield Infidel]

He's tidy in front of goal, makes good runs and is a good passer. Plays better from middle than from outside. He took games off from time to time, but that may have been more due to the culture at Newcastle, a lot of guys did that but it was frustrating nonetheless. I was hoping he'd stay because Rafa can get more out if him, and a year in he'd be more settled, but economic reality precludes him staying Tyneside.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Wijnaldum seems like a very curious signing .. And sadly would appear to herald the end of the Joe Allen era.

But, as mentioned where is he going to play? Are they thinking of making him a DM? Or a deep lying playmaker?

They have been chasing this kind of guy all window which seemed odd considering the strengths of the team.

Currently we have no one qualified as a defensive midfielder .. And a LB upgrade is very much needed.

Oh well .. In Klopp We Trust.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

I'm in a similar camp - I think Wijnaldum can be deployed deeper than the Firmino/Mané/Coutinho/Lallana type of player, and can make the runs needed from a LCM position. However, he doesn't offer enough of a defensive work rate for what it appears objectively the squad needs.

There were some (albeit pretty suspect) sources indicating that Klopp is interested in bringing in Gary Medel, which is IMO the exact kind of player they need. He can play as a DCM or CB in a pinch, and would give the purely defensive cover in midfield to supplement Can, Lucas, Stewart, and Grujić.

In other news, Augsburg's Ragnar Klavan will take the Touré role it appears.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Looks like Joe Allen is off to Stoke ..

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-accept-13m-bid-stoke-11643253

He will be missed.

 

[Auger34]

Realistically, how many more players will Klopp sign? And how many more players do you think are needed. Seems like we need a DM, a center back and a left back at the least. However, I believe Klopp indicated he will only sign 3 more players before Wjinaldum and Klavan

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Realistically, how many more players will Klopp sign? And how many more players do you think are needed. Seems like we need a DM, a center back and a left back at the least. However, I believe Klopp indicated he will only sign 3 more players before Wjinaldum and Klavan

Please sign a LB ... Please sign a LB ... Please sign a LB!!!!

A DM would be nice too. Rumours have them still interested in the Polish MF who's name escapes me. Not sure if he fits that bill though as he seems more of a winger type. Maybe Klopp sees Henderson ultimately filling that role?

Jakub Blaszczykowski .. Aka Kuba

 

[Auger34]

Rumors are that Henderson might be on the way out....1-2 more players are needed for the back end. Hoping one of them is a quality signing a la Manè or Wjinaldum

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Aaron Ramsey has been given until August 1 to report to Arsenal, with Koscielny, Ozil, and Giroud all getting at least as much time off. All are going to be major doubts for the opener.

Starting off with Arsenal B wouldn't be so bad.

Sanchez and Cazorla look like injury doubts as well, so you might be getting Arsenal C.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Brad Smith sold to Bournemouth for 6m pounds

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-accept-6m-bournemouth-bid-11656042

This has to mean a new LB is in the offing ..

Jonas Hector springs to mind. Maybe they go back for the Leicester kid?

 

[Schnerres]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/1493575/england-football-ace-nathaniel-clyne-in-shocking-sex-tape-video-smear/

 

[JayMags71]

The Sun? Really? That's some good trolling.