There is definitely an air of uncertainty about the new season at Anfield as fans wonder which Liverpool they will see in 2021-22 – the side that lost inconceivably six straight league games at home between January and January, including five without goals March this year? Or the team that was unbeaten in 10 games and somehow made it into the top three in May?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will no doubt pray that this is the latter version and that his players can use the momentum from their impressive end from the previous season to get off to a good start this time around, starting live at newly promoted Norwich City on the season’s opening Saturday at Sky Sports.

A big plus for Klopp and his players will be the return of full stadiums when the new season starts on Jan.

Another equally significant change from last season for Klopp and his coaching staff is the expected return of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Picture:
Virgil van Dijk returned from injury the previous season

This defensive trio missed large parts of last season due to injury, but has since returned in the preseason, although only Matip will appear at the beginning of the season while the other two are fully fit again.

Add £ 36million from RB Leipzig Ibrahima Konate in the summer and suddenly Klopp has defensive options again to work with. This will also have the equally important knock-on effect that players like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho can be used in their preferred midfield roles and not as makeshift central defenders.


Picture:
Ibrahima Konate has arrived from RB Leipzig

In fact, the Liverpool coach may even have the luxury of using his first choice midfield with Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara – who have only played together once so far, last October at Everton in the game that ended Van Dijk’s season prematurely.

The midfield is a cause for concern, however, as the Reds are yet to replace Gini Wijnaldum after his summer move to Paris Saint-Germain.

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Dharmesh Sheth of the Transfer Show reports that Alisson has signed a new long-term contract that will keep him in Liverpool until the summer of 2027

According to reports, Klopp must first unload people like Xherdan Shaqiri, Sheyi Ojo, Divock Origi, Ben Woodburn, Neco Williams and Loris Karius before he can use favorite targets like Youri Tielemans from Leicester City or Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid.

But even if sporting director Michael Edwards can’t find buyers for these players, Liverpool should have enough strength to ensure they aren’t 17 points behind the pace next season, as they were last time.

Saturday, August 14th at 5:00 p.m.

Kick-off at 5:30 p.m.

Liverpool’s first five games

Norwich City (a) – Saturday 14 August kick-off 5:30 p.m. live on Sky Sports Premier League

Burnley (h) – Saturday, August 21st, kick-off at 12.30 p.m.

Chelsea (h) – Saturday, August 28th, kick-off at 5:30 p.m., live on Sky Sports Premier League

Leeds United (a) – Saturday, September 11th, kick-off at 3:00 p.m.

Crystal Palace (h) – Saturday, September 18, kick-off at 3 p.m.

Liverpool’s summer transfers

In

Ibrahima Konate – RB Leipzig, £ 36m

the end

Georginio Wijnaldum – Paris Saint-Germain, free of charge

Harry Wilson – Fulham, £ 12m

Marco Grujic – Porto, unknown

Adam Lewis – Livingston, on loan

Sepp van den Berg – Preston, loan

Paul Glatzel – Tranmere, loan

Liam Coyle – Accrington, for free

Joe Hardy – Accrington, for free

Taiwo Awoniyi – Union Berlin, not known

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