Having not played Champions League football since 2009/10, Liverpool fans will be hoping that this coming season will not become the 4th consecutive year that their team don’t feature on the European stage. Here are 5 reasons why Liverpool will finish in the top 4 in the coming EPL season.
1. Arsenal and United will falter
With the positive managerial changes and high class players that have arrived at Stanford Bridge and the Blue side of Manchester during the off season, it is hard to see the title not going to Chelsea or Manchester City. But what isn't a certainty however is who will fill those last two Champions League places. The slow start to David Moyes rein at Manchester United isn’t the best sign of things to come for the red devils. The uncertainty of whether Rooney will stay, as well as the lack of major signings could prove costly for a team that in the 21 year history of the premier league, have never finished outside the top 2. The same problem exists for Arsenal. Another off season of no major high class signings can only point to Arsene Wenger’s men once again struggling to contend with the title contenders and grab a Champion’s League place.
2. Phillippe Coutinho
Liverpool only paid $14.5 million for Coutinho in what has to be an absolute bargain for a Brazilian 21 year old. That’s nothing compared to another 21 year old Brazilian by the name of Neymar who was bought for just over $80 million. And although he didn’t hit the 1st year heights like Michu or Hazard, a lot of Liverpool’s creativity going forward and finishing off half chances will rely on the improved development of Coutinho. In only 10 and a quarter games last season, Coutinho scored 3 goals and had 7 assists, and with the uncertainty of Luis Suarez’s part in Liverpool’s attack, he should receive a lot more game time.
3. A full season with Daniel Sturridge
Having relied more than heavily on Suarez for goals during the first half of last season, the signing of Daniel Sturridge in the January transfer window came as a huge relief for Liverpool's fans. In the first 18 games of last season, Liverpool had only netted 27 goals of their final 71 (39%). After Sturridge’s arrival, Liverpool netted 44 times in their last 18 games with Sturridge netting 10 in only 14 games.
4. Stevie G marches on
Sure, Steven Gerard is getting a little bit older, but time and again last season he showed why he is and has always been considered a permanent place in England's Midfield. And with this season leading straight into what might be his last World Cup, there is no doubt he will want to perform consistently for his club to book his ticket to Brazil.
5. No Bale, No Spurs
With the almost certain departure of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, Tottenham will lose 21 league goals, 9 assists and 47% of their points (34 of 72) that will be very hard to replace. The Welsh wizard single handedly kept the spurs in the hunt for that 4th Champions league position right until the final day with that marvelous 89th minute winner against Sunderland before the antagonizing 5 minute wait to see if Newcastle had leveled against Arsenal (which they didn’t). And although Tottenham have been active in the transfer market with the signings of Soldado and Paulinho, something just suspects that they won’t be able to match the feats of Bale.
