Liverpool are poised to rejoin Champions League elite but does Jurgen Klopp have the squad to compete with Europe's best and challenge for Premier League title?

  • Liverpool lead Hoffenheim entering second leg of Champions League play-off 
  • The Reds should secure their return to Europe's elite club competition
  • Jurgen Klopp faces a pivotal season as he chases first silverware of his tenure
  • Questions remain over the goalkeeper and defence after failed Van Dijk chase
  • Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona transfer saga has overshadowed start to season 

Liverpool should secure their return to European football's elite on Wednesday evening when they reconvene with German side Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off.

A dazzling free-kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold and an own goal by Havard Nordtveit secured the Reds a 2-1 first leg win away from home and they are odds-on favourites to complete the job at Anfield.

Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, however, may prove a rather gentle re-introduction to Champions League football, with so many stellar names lying in wait in the group stage and beyond to offer Liverpool a true test.

Liverpool have a pivotal season ahead as they fight for honours both at home and in Europe

Liverpool have a pivotal season ahead as they fight for honours both at home and in Europe

Manager Jurgen Klopp hasn't been able to bring in all of his summer transfer targets

Manager Jurgen Klopp hasn't been able to bring in all of his summer transfer targets

In every regard, a pivotal season lies ahead of Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool fans are waiting for the German to deliver a trophy and mount a sustained bid for a long-awaited league title.


There have been positives and negatives in the early games, with defensive weaknesses exposed in the 3-3 draw at Watford and a lack of cutting edge in Saturday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The feeling also persists that their chances for the season rest heavily on whether Philippe Coutinho is allowed to move to Barcelona, with the Spanish side expected to test Liverpool's resolve with a £138m offer.

With the season now underway and a week left in the transfer window, we assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Liverpool squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold curled home a free-kick in last week's first leg against Hoffenheim

Trent Alexander-Arnold curled home a free-kick in last week's first leg against Hoffenheim

 

GOALKEEPERS

This proved a real problem area for Liverpool last season, with Simon Mignolet starting the campaign before being dropped for Loris Karius and then eventually restored to the No 1 position.

Both have been susceptible to high-profile errors with questions marks over their positioning and handling.

Mignolet has been chosen to start the season, having ended the last campaign strongly, but old frailties surfaced as he failed to prevent Miguel Britos equalising in stoppage time at Watford.

Both keepers have a good claim to the role and Klopp looks to favour Mignolet at present. 

But, as last season proved, a bad performance or two could well see that pecking order reversed and undermines the benefits of having a regular stopper that the back line are used to and comfortable with.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet can't prevent Miguel Britos scoring for Watford on opening day

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet can't prevent Miguel Britos scoring for Watford on opening day

Loris Karius, currently the second choice between the sticks, makes a save in training

Loris Karius, currently the second choice between the sticks, makes a save in training

 

DEFENCE

Liverpool's fruitless pursuit of Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk was the transfer saga of the early summer and though the speculation continues, the Saints have dug in their heels.

Signing Van Dijk was supposed to address some of the weaknesses in Liverpool's back line last season, the Dutchman bringing some much-needed strength, poise and leadership.

Klopp paired Joel Matip with Dejan Lovren in central defence for the Premier League opener at Watford, only to see a shortage of organisation and three goals conceded.

They performed better against Hoffenheim but, tellingly, Klopp overhauled his back four against Palace, with Ragnar Klavan replacing Lovren, Joe Gomez replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and Andy Robertson making his debut in place of Alberto Moreno at left-back.

Time is running out if Liverpool want to sign Southampton's Virgil van Dijk this summer

Time is running out if Liverpool want to sign Southampton's Virgil van Dijk this summer

Joel Matip competes for the ball in the air with Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace on Saturday

Joel Matip competes for the ball in the air with Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace on Saturday

They managed to keep a clean sheet but Klopp reacted angrily to a question post-match that suggested Liverpool were under pressure not to concede.

While Lovren and Matip will likely continue in the heart of defence, it appears Klopp will regularly rotate at the back and that probably won't calm the nerves of Liverpool fans who fear last season's defensive problems returning.

Many feel that Liverpool are crying out for an authorative Van Dijk-esque figure to stamp out the kind of errors that cost points last season.

They certainly look well-stocked at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold a good understudy to Nathaniel Clyne, while the signing of Robertson from Hull will surely avert the need to play James Milner at left-back this time around.

While Robertson has hopefully solved that conundrum, you still feel Liverpool a lacking that reliable centre-half.

New signing Andrew Robertson crosses ahead of Joel Ward during the 1-0 win over Palace

New signing Andrew Robertson crosses ahead of Joel Ward during the 1-0 win over Palace

Dejan Lovren is likely to remain at the heart of Liverpool's defence for the season ahead

Dejan Lovren is likely to remain at the heart of Liverpool's defence for the season ahead

 

MIDFIELD

Liverpool have some very good central midfield options at their disposal and this was never regarded as an area that needed strengthening.

Jordan Henderson has matured into a fine leader of the side and can be paired with a combination of Emre Can, Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum in a midfield three.

Between these players, Liverpool's midfield should certainly have plenty of energy, skill and bite in matches both domestically and in Europe.

Klopp wanted desperately to further bolster this area by signing Naby Keita from RB Leipzig but several offers were rebuffed.  

Jordan Henderson is very much Liverpool's captain and leader in the middle of the park

Jordan Henderson is very much Liverpool's captain and leader in the middle of the park

Klopp failed in his efforts to sign Naby Keita of RB Leipzig (right) despite big money bids

Klopp failed in his efforts to sign Naby Keita of RB Leipzig (right) despite big money bids

 

FORWARDS

The Philippe Coutinho saga has preoccupied Liverpool for much of the summer, with Barcelona set to really test their resolve with an imminent fourth offer amounting to a whopping £138m.

The Brazilian, sidelined at the moment with a back injury and illness, seems determined to push through the move and is keen to be Neymar's replacement at the Nou Camp.

Liverpool would certainly be tempted by the £138m offered up but know they wouldn't have time to sign a replacement for their talisman before the end of the month.

In 181 matches for Liverpool, Coutinho has scored 42 goals and contributed 37 assists, so nobody is any doubt as to what a huge hole this would leave in the side.

Philippe Coutinho is keen to push through his Barcelona transfer in a deal maybe worth £138m

Philippe Coutinho is keen to push through his Barcelona transfer in a deal maybe worth £138m

The Liverpool fans are desperate fortheir talisman Coutinho to remain at Anfield

The Liverpool fans are desperate fortheir talisman Coutinho to remain at Anfield

Some fans are resigned to losing him and look to the remainder of Liverpool's well-stocked forward line to compensate.

The highly-effective axis of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have now been joined by Mohamed Salah, a £44m signing from Roma whom Klopp hopes will prove more effective on Merseyside than he did at Chelsea.

That remains to be seen but there's no questioning the class of Mane and Firmino, who combined to great effect in a dynamic forward line last season.

Mane scored as many as Coutinho in the league last season, while Firmino was just a couple behind. Both opened their accounts for this season at Watford.

Daniel Sturridge, finally back from injury, is almost a new signing in himself and with a clean bill of health this season, there's hope he can end up in the 15-20 goal bracket.

Sadio Mane was Liverpool's matchwinner against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon

Sadio Mane was Liverpool's matchwinner against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon

Daniel Sturridge will hopefully have better luck with injuries in the coming season

Daniel Sturridge will hopefully have better luck with injuries in the coming season

The talented Dominic Solanke will be desperate for chances to impress after stagnating in Chelsea's reserves, while Adam Lallana has still to come back from his thigh injury.

Liverpool should have plenty up front even if Coutinho does depart. They ooze energy and creativity and the goals should flow. If Coutinho does stay, it could be a very memorable season.