Liverpool FC Season Recap and Future

Liverpool Football Club Logo

Liverpool Football (soccer) Club of the Barclays Premier League had an improved 2012-2013 campaign from their previous season finishing 7th in the league out of 20 teams. Last year was a big disappointment for many fans when we finished 8th and had our lowest goal tally in many years. With a new manager in Brendan Rodgers, a new breath of life was ignited in the team, and we saw improvements in a few players who struggled the previous year. Before the 2011-12 campaign Liverpool signed Andy Carroll from Newcastle for 35m pounds, Jordan Henderson from Sunderland for 20m pounds, and Stewart Downing from Aston Villa for 18m pounds. All these signings failed to have an impact in the previous season and did little to win over the hearts of the Liverpool faithful.

Brendan Rodgers

When Brendan Rodgers was hired, his first order of business was to loan Andy Carroll out to West Ham United, as he did not see the 35 million pound man in the future with Liverpool. Andy Carroll was supposed to be a future replacement for our top goal scorer a few seasons in a row Fernando Torres, who was sold to Chelsea FC, a London club, the January prior for 50 million pounds. Needless to say he also failed to live up to his high price tag, and left the fans scratching their heads as to how we would spend so much on him. Brendan Rodgers then decided to add some more depth in the midfield by signing Joe Allen for 15 million pounds from his previous club Swansea City. He also bought a Moroccan winger from Heerenven of the Dutch Football League to bring some flair into the club. These looked to be quality signings, but later in the season we can see that they may not have been such.

Joe Allen

Joe Allen made a huge impact in his first few games and had fans excited about the future of our midfield. He was very strong for his size, and was good with the ball at his feet. The 15 million that Rodgers paid for him seemed to be money well spent. It wasn't until later on in the season that we began to see a dip in Allen's form, and he was sidelined before too long. Many fans then began to turn on Allen and the money spent for him, which I don't understand because it was only a few games in which he did not play up to snuff. It was later found that Joe had been carrying an injury while he was off form, and many fans then realized exactly why he was playing as he was. I can say that I do like Joe Allen as a player and I hope he stays with Liverpool and shows us more of his midfield quality once he is healthy again next year.

Luis Suarez

In the beginning of the year it was clear that Luis Suarez was still the best player currently wearing a Liverpool jersey when he blazed to a huge start. He had led the league in goals throughout the whole year, and ended up with 23 goals in 33 games. He had 31 goals altogether in the season when you include other competitions that Liverpool were involved in, but like many years prior, Suarez was wrapped in controversy. The year prior, Suarez was accused of racial abuse against Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, who is black. Evra claimed that Suarez called him a racist name, and he was banned for 8 games because of it. This current season Suarez carried over his controversy, when experts and fans alike, labeled him a diver and a cheat. A diver is someone who goes down to the ground to easy to try and draw a foul from the referee. I cannot deny that Suarez is a diver, but yet so are most players in football. Yet another controversy struck Suarez when in a game against Chelsea FC, Suarez intentionally bit Branislav Ivanovic on the arm out of frustration. He received a 10 game ban, and will be out for the remainder of this season and some of next.

Philippe Coutinho

Brendan Rodgers made a huge splash in the January transfer window by acquiring a much needed scorer in Daniel Sturridge for 12m from Chelsea. He also signed a young Brazilian named Coutinho from a club in Italy called Inter for 8.5m which would prove to be one of the best signings this club has seen yet. Both these players made an immediate impact on the club, and brought new life to the attacking play that the fans have come to know and love from Liverpool FC. As you know, Brazilians are very talented footballers, and Coutinho is no exception to that. He absolutely mesmerizes fans and defenders alike when he dribbles past everyone and lays a beautiful pass in for one of our strikers. Just this past weekend against Newcastle, Coutinho had a part in all 6 goals that were scored for Liverpool that game, and he was an absolute menace to the defense. Sturridge also added two goals to his already stellar goal scoring record with Liverpool in the few months he had started playing for us.

I believe that the future is bright for LFC. We have loads of young talent, and Brendan Rodgers has gotten the best out of the team he was given. With a little time, and some more quality signings, I believe Liverpool will return to the glory days and compete hard for years to come.