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Few clouds on the horizon for a Liverpool side full of excitement
After a raft of injuries last season and a controversially quiet transfer window, the Reds have defied critics and are returning to their brilliant best, says JAMES NALTON
Liverpool's Mo Salah

THERE were some worries at the beginning of this Premier League season that Liverpool would not have the squad depth required to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City.

Some of this is a hangover from the 2020-21 campaign, during which they were severely affected by injuries to their three first-team central defenders. And after the sale of Dejan Lovren in the summer of 2020, there was a feeling that they had not adequately replaced him.

A season that began as a title defence turned into a struggle to field 11 senior players. At one point there was the prospect of Liverpool not even qualifying for the Champions League, but a combination of Jurgen Klopp’s management and some solid performances from those standing in saw them finish third, ahead of Chelsea.

Liverpool’s only signing this past summer was one of the highest-rated young defenders in Europe, Ibrahima Konate.

The Reds paid £36 million for the 22-year-old, which in today’s market was a bargain for a player of such quality and promise.

His signing has given Liverpool the four centre-backs required for the demanding schedule faced by top clubs.

Konate impressed in Thursday night’s 3-1 victory against Newcastle at Anfield, standing in for Virgil van Dijk, who was out having tested positive for Covid-19. The team’s new depth in defence was highlighted by the presence of Joe Gomez on the bench. 

At the end of last season, there were calls for Liverpool to retain the services of another centre-back, Ozan Kabak, who had joined on loan from Schalke in January. But as things stand, a fifth centre-back would struggle to even make the matchday squad.

Liverpool appear to have solved their lack of depth in the centre of defence with the signing of Konate, but what about elsewhere on the pitch?

Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul was a much-discussed possible transfer for Liverpool in the summer, but the 27-year-old ended up on loan at Chelsea. 

It’s probably an understatement to say it’s not worked out for the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge so far. It may well have been a different story playing in a different system for Klopp’s Liverpool, but on the face of it, it’s looking like the Reds made the right decision.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has stepped up in recent games, offering Liverpool some drive from midfield. Even though he’s yet to find the net this season, he is a threat from distance, which opposition sides have to be wary of, and offers a different dynamic to the club’s other midfielders.

Elsewhere, Thiago continues to show his class in a Liverpool shirt, continuing where he left off last season. 

Despite a high-profile error against Newcastle that led to Jonjo Shelvey’s goal, he offers control and creativity in the moments such qualities are needed, and has emerged as one of the best players at the club.

Klopp is also likely to have Harvey Elliott back in the side in 2022. The German coach had trusted Elliott to start three of the opening four Premier League games, including at home to title rivals Chelsea, before he suffered a dislocated ankle against Leeds. 

The use of each of these players goes against the idea that Klopp merely wants his midfield to be functional while others do the creative work. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago and Elliott are all playmakers and creators in their own way. 

If anything, the midfield area most in need of reinforcement is backup to Fabinho in the deepest role, but the most immediate concern for Liverpool is losing Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Naby Keita (Guinea) to the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Cameroon early next year.

The tournament runs from January 9 to February 6, which means these players will definitely miss Liverpool’s FA Cup game against Shrewsbury and a league game against Brentford, and likely the following game against Crystal Palace. 

Should Egypt, Senegal, or Guinea reach the semi-finals, these players might also struggle to be ready for the game against Leicester on February 10 as there is a third-place play-off on the 6th, along with the final itself.

With Salah aiming to win the tournament to further secure his status as the best current footballer in the world, Liverpool should be preparing for the possibility of being without him for all four of those games.

Having known about this before the season started, the lack of back-up on the right wing was the most valid criticism of the state of the squad as the summer transfer window closed.

Had a player been signed then, they would have had a few months to bed in, as is almost always needed for new players settling into Klopp’s system, and they would be ready to go come January with Salah and Mane in Cameroon.

Striker Divock Origi has been in good form this season, and versatile attacker Takumi Minamino has displayed flashes of the talent he showed at Salzburg — but neither of these back-up players offers Salah’s left-footed threat.

No player would be able to replace Salah in terms of quality, but neither do Liverpool have anyone to replace him in style. 

Elliott is perhaps the closest, and his imminent return to full training will be a boost for Klopp, who obviously had big plans for the 18-year-old at the start of the season.

As Liverpool sit second in the table having only lost one game, just a point behind Manchester City and three ahead of Chelsea, pre-season fears about a lack of depth have so far not been realised. 

They also topped a difficult Champions League group with a perfect record of six wins from six.

Klopp’s team are playing some of the best attacking football on show anywhere in Europe, and the victory against Newcastle means they have now won eight games in a row in all competitions.

The second half of the season may yet confirm that they are an attacker short of maintaining the challenge at the top of the table, but for now, Liverpool fans are enjoying the ride, and there are few more exciting teams to follow in world football.

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