"Brilliant" was how Brendan Rodgers described Liverpool's 2013-14 Premier League campaign, and few right-minded Reds fan would argue with him. Having supped the sporting equivalent of dishwater for the last four years, the Anfield faithful were served champagne soccer overflowing with goals, even if the bubbles fell a little flat in the final weeks.
And yet, having come so close, thoughts will inevitably turn to what could have been. If Liverpool are to end their 24-year wait for a 19th league title, they need to address a number of key issues before the new season begins.
At the top of Brendan Rodgers' summer to-do list will be ensuring Luis Suarez remains on Merseyside. The Uruguayan was involved in more than 40% of Liverpool's Premier League goals this season, with 31 strikes (the highest in the League) and 12 assists. The man Steven Gerrard proclaims to be "the best player I have played with by a distance" is undoubtedly Liverpool's prize asset, despite his Mike Tyson-esque propensity to bite chunks out of his opponents. Keeping him from the likes of Real Madrid - rumored to be readying a $100m bid - should be Rodgers' foremost priority.
(Luis Suarez is a rumored transfer target for Real Madrid, so Rodgers will have his hands full this off-season ensuring the star player stays in Liverpool (Photo: photofriday | Shutterstock.com)(Luis Suarez is a rumored transfer target for Real Madrid, so Rodgers will have his hands full this off-season ensuring the star player stays in Liverpool (Photo: photofriday | Shutterstock.com)
While Liverpool unleashed blitzkrieg-like attacking play this season, their defence resembled the Maginot Line: in short, it needs to improve drastically if they’re to stand any chance of winning the EPL. The Merseysiders shipped 50 goals in 2013-14, 13 more than Man City and 23 more than Chelsea. Whisper it, but even a malfunctioning Man United conceded fewer this term. Swashbuckling play inevitably leads to gaps at the back, never more evident than in the 3-3 debacle at Crystal Palace. But Liverpool's problems stem from more than just tactical philosophy. No Premier League team committed more defensive errors that led to goals than Brendan Rodgers' men, and although Gerrard's slip against Chelsea was the highest profile misstep, his was merely indicative of a wider malaise. It is telling that no club in the last ten years has conceded 50 or more goals and gone on to become champions.
A lack of European competition meant Liverpool could afford to rely on a core of players this season, but the rigors of the Champions League will require far greater strength-in-depth. Liverpool played just 43 games in total this term, compared to 57 for both City and Chelsea, and they were overly reliant on the likes of Skrtel (36 EPL starts), Henderson (35), Gerrard and Suarez (33 each). While presenting challenges, the Champions League also provides the opportunity to attract world-class players to the club, and Fenway Sports Group must give Rodgers the resources to add both depth and quality between now and September 1st. Otherwise, mid-week trips to the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk will seriously test their stamina.
