IT has been well-documented in these pages and podcasts that Liverpool seem to be making a conscious effort to buy pace and goals, writes SIMON ALKIN. However, something else that appears evident from all of the club’s signings this summer is a preference for players that can stay fit and last a full season.
It’s no secret that the Reds had problems with injuries last term, but I’d argue it hasn’t been used often enough as mitigation for our eighth place finish in the league.
If you look through the squad from 2015-16, it’s notable how few seemed to come through the campaign staying largely healthy. Of the outfielders, only Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno, Adam Lallana and James Milner went largely injury-free and had very little time out. You could possibly add Roberto Firmino and Emre Can to that list, but even they each missed a few weeks early and late in the season respectively.
The rest of the squad was a patchwork throughout. Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge each missed more than half the season, and often weren’t 100 per cent even when available. Danny Ings and Joe Gomez were absent for the vast majority of the campaign, both cruelly struck down as they seemed to be hitting their strides.
Christian Benteke had two separate month-long spells on the sidelines. Divock Origi missed several months in total, spread across multiple injuries. Philippe Coutinho had a couple of different muscle problems between November and February. And all this is before you even mention the mid-season centre back crisis that necessitated Steven Caulker’s emergency signing.
These were not insignificant losses, and the proof of it could be seen in the one period of the campaign when the Reds had a mostly fit squad to choose from: between mid-February (when Sturridge, Coutinho and Origi all returned) and mid-April, Liverpool picked up 19 points from eight league games (title-challenging form in 15-16), while knocking both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund out of the Europa League.
It’s an admittedly small sample size, but it suggests that the Reds’ problem wasn’t necessarily a lack of quality, but rather an inability to consistently call upon their most dangerous players in a way that, say, Leicester or Spurs could.
With this in mind, it’s encouraging to see that the club’s summer signings seem to be, at least partly, a conscious effort to add durability to the squad and first XI.
All of Sadio Mané, Georgino Wijnaldum, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Loris Karius played over 30 league games last term, Wijnaldum in particular featuring in every single one of Newcastle’s 38 premier league fixtures. All except Matip (who suffered a broken foot two seasons ago) played at least 30 league games in 14-15 too.
Notwithstanding broken bones, which — like Karius’ unlucky hand injury — can happen at any time, these numbers appear to demonstrate that Liverpool are adding quality options who aren’t prone to picking up muscle injuries.
Now, contrast that with some names the club have either sold, or are reportedly trying to sell — Joe Allen, Benteke, Lazar Markovic and Mario Ballotelli — and it looks like the club is exchanging players likely to break down and miss games for those who have a better chance of lasting and contributing for a full campaign.
Not at all to play down the obvious importance of pace, goals and quality, but Leicester demonstrated last season that the ability to pick a consistent, settled first XI was as instrumental to their success as anything else.
If Liverpool are to have any hope of going where we dream they might and emulating the Foxes’ achievement, then keeping our players healthy and available is an absolute must. Here’s hoping these new boys aren’t just good, but good at staying fit, too.
Up the sturdy Reds.
For podcasts on pre-season, Liverpool past and present, transfer gossip, the lowdown on new signings and more, subscribe to TAW Player for just £5 per month. Our recent shows include The Pro View, with Neil Mellor and Chris Kirkland, a chat with Steven Gerrard and an exclusive interview with Jürgen Klopp in the USA. Minimum sign-up is just one month. If it’s not for you, all you’ve shelled out is a fiver! More information here
Never listened to an Anfield Wrap podcast? Below is a free clip from our exclusive chat with Jürgen Klopp. Give it a listen.
https://audioboom.com/boos/4880920-jurgen-klopp-talks-to-taw
Steady mate, we can’t have any optimism – you’ll get pelters.
I hope you performed a whole array of superstitious rituals before writing this article. Seems to be asking for trouble…
Definitely something in this. A settled, fully fit squad has seemed like a forever unreachable goal for us over the past few seasons.
Good post – I agree that we have added some durability to the squad. Huge concern about Clyne and Moreno. We have no replacements to them and it’s unlikely they will go as injury free as before.
New LB/ RB seems to be urgent before the season starts – which we have known about for a while though.
Hopefully less injuries this season as the squad adapts to Klopp.
I believe!
injuries are part and parcel of the game. No one should be looking for mitigating factors. for the 8th placed finish.. It simply wasnt good enough
True enough about injuries being part and parcel of the game, and I’m not trying to blame everything on them, but I’d just argue our injury situation last season was as bad as I’ve ever seen, worse even than under Souness. I also think that we suffered not just with the huge number of injuries, but also with who was picking them up – key players who couldn’t easily be replaced. Aside from maybe Kompany at Man City, I can’t think of many other examples of top teams losing key players for hugely extended periods, whereas we had both Henderson and Sturridge out for 5 months in amongst all the niggles being picked up by the majority of the squad.
I just think that it’s no coincidence that the two teams who suffered least with injuries, Leicester and Spurs, were the two who ultimately challenged for the league title.