Now the season has reached its conclusion, it is time to reflect on a campaign that showed some promise, led to some frustration, and left Brendan Rodgers with a lot to ponder going into the most important transfer window since his arrival three years ago.
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While we are hoping for some big signings, there are also some players that we are keen to see shipped on. But, do the statistics back up our feelings on how our squad have played this year?
Here are the average ratings for our entire team, as provided by WhoScored.
25. Jerome Sinclair (5.96)
The youngster made a couple of substitute appearances in the latter stages of games late on in the season, so it is unfair to have such a low rating. Hopefully next season, he will receive more of a chance whether it be at Anfield, or out on loan.
24. Brad Jones (6.20)
The Australian looks set to bid a fond farewell to Merseyside with his contract due to expire (via the Liverpool Echo). His three appearances in the Premier League came when Rodgers decided to drop Simon Mignolet in December. However, an injury during the win against Burnley saw the Belgian recalled. Like Sinclair, his rating is slightly harsh, given the fact that two of his appearances came against Manchester United and Arsenal.
23. Fabio Borini (6.22)
There would be few tears shed if the former Chelsea man was to leave the club in the summer. He scored one goal this season, and got sent off late on in the draw against Arsenal in December.
22. Rickie Lambert (6.33)
Having featured from the bench from most of the campaign, it is little surprise that his goals return is nowhere near good enough. The 33-year-old has scored two times in the top flight, and created two more. It is quite possible that his flick on for Steven Gerrard’s strike against Stoke may be one of his last actions for the club.
21. Jose Enrique (6.34)
Injuries have restricted the ex-Newcastle man to just four games this year. Unfortunately, his only contribution this season has been the continual updates he seems to post on Instagram.
20. Kolo Toure (6.53)
The 34-year-old has looked mistake-prone at times, and saved his best effort for the Champions League game against Real Madrid, hence why his rating is low. The Daily Mail report that he is in talks over an extended stay, with his contract set to expire.
19. Mario Balotelli (6.54)
Mario remains a mystery. Brendan Rodgers has not been able to solve the enigma that is the Italian striker, which leaves his future in limbo, and it is unlikely that many fans will be too disappointed if his Liverpool career was cut to one year. His increased effort towards the end of the campaign failed to translate into goals, meaning that his winner against Tottenham was his solitary effort.
18. Jordon Ibe (6.63)
This will leave a lot of fans scratching their heads, as since his return from his loan spell at Derby, the winger has been one of our most exciting talents. He has proved his ability to run with the ball at the kind of pace that gives defenders nightmares, but if he can back that up with the confidence to produce that killer pass or rifling shot – like we saw in the Merseyside derby – then his rating will be much higher in the future.
17. Lazar Markovic (6.67)
We have not seen the best of the Serbian this year, and that has probably been down to the fact that he has spent of much of the campaign playing in a position unfamiliar to him. If he is given the chance to play more often as a winger, we may see the player that we have been treated to glimpses of so far.
16. Alberto Moreno (6.69)
The Spaniard likes to get forward, which would be fine, but we need to see more assists from him and better defensive contributions. He scored twice – including the stunning solo effort against Tottenham on the second week of the season – but failed to register a single assist. He now needs to back up his attacking mentality with productivity.
15. Simon Mignolet (6.73)
The old football cliche of a game consisting of two contrasting halves sums Simon Mignolet’s season up perfectly. Having looked shaky and bereft of confidence early on in the campaign, Brendan Rodgers took him out of the firing line. As mentioned, the injury to his understudy Brad Jones gave him a second chance, and he’s accepted it fantastically. A clean-sheet on the final day of the season would have seen him tied for the golden glove award for most clean sheets. Let’s hope we get the Mignolet that looked so assured for the latter part of the season, next year.
14. Glen Johnson (6.79)
The 30-year-old will be leaving Merseyside after six years when his contract runs out in the summer. His performances this year have not been up to their previous level of consistency, and thus it seems the right time for both parties to go their separate ways.
13. Joe Allen (6.81)
Joe Allen boasts one of the best passing success rates in the side, and managed to bag only his second Premier League goal for the club, as he scored the clinching strike in the win against Newcastle last month.
12. Javier Manquillo (6.87)
Despite enjoying a decent run in the side during the early months of the season, the Spaniard has not featured in the top flight since December, and has only played three games in the other competitions in that time. With another year left on his loan deal from Atletico Madrid, and with Glen Johnson leaving and Jon Flanagan sidelined, Rodgers may turn to the 21-year-old to fill the void at right-back next season.
11. Adam Lallana (6.93)
Injuries have prevented the former Southampton man getting a good run in the side, but he is starting to the show the reason why we paid such a large amount for him last summer. His most recent goal was a well-taken effort during Steven Gerrard’s final appearance at Anfield.
10. Steven Gerrard (6.95)
Our departing captain was our top goalscorer this year, so you would expect him to feature higher. This year may not have been vintage Gerrard, but he has popped up when our backs were against the ropes on several occasions. Trying to fill the hole that he will leave with no doubt be Brendan Rodgers’ largest challenge of the summer.
9. Lucas Leiva (6.96)
The Brazilian has enjoyed another solid year, patrolling in front of the defence. Although it is not his role in the side, he will probably be slightly disappointed that he hasn’t managed to trouble the goalscorers list, or created a goal for a teammate.
8. Dejan Lovren (7.00)
Despite the criticism that has plagued much of his first season at Anfield, the Croatian started to find some decent form towards the end of the campaign. His man of the match effort against West Brom was particularly pleasing for those waiting for him to come good. Hopefully, he can put the Stoke game behind him and build for next year.
7. Daniel Sturridge (7.01)
Following the loss of Luis Suarez in the summer, the last thing Rodgers needed was to lose Daniel Sturridge to extensive injury problems. Unfortunately, that has proven to be the case, as just as it appeared he was starting to find some match fitness, he picked up another knock that ended his season prematurely. He still managed four league goals, which is a decent return given his seven starts.
6. Mamadou Sakho (7.05)
The defender was missing from early April, and only made his return on the final day of the season. In that time, our FA Cup run came to an end and we lost our way in the league. It would be over dramatic to suggest that Sakho’s absence was the reason, but it certainly did not help. He has been the best option that Rodgers has tried alongside Skrtel, and seems to be getting better with almost every appearance.
5. Emre Can (7.05)
Considering he has spent much of the season in an unfamiliar position, Emre Can has done a great job in his first year at Anfield. He has been much more prominent in defence, playing at both right-back or in a more central role as part of a back three, but he has proved also that he has not lost any of his promise when he has been given a chance down the middle. He could become a leader in the future if he is given a chance in midfield.
4) Jordan Henderson (7.14)
When Steven Gerrard was unavailable, Jordan Henderson boasted a fantastic record when wearing the armband. As much as we will miss the outgoing skipper, his likely replacement has proved that he is up to the job. No player in our side has managed more assists than the midfielder’s nine this season.
3) Martin Skrtel (7.22)
Brendan Rodgers has fluctuated between a back three and flat back four on many occasions this year, but Martin Skrtel has remained a stalwart throughout. His reliability makes him one of the first names on the teamsheet, and makes extending his contract one of the most important bits of business we will do in the summer.
2) Raheem Sterling (7.27)
Despite his off-field activities which have already overshadowed his talent, Raheem Sterling has enjoyed a pretty good year on the pitch. He has scored seven goals, and created another seven for his teammates, proving that he would be a major miss – on the pitch anyway – should he get his wish to leave (via BBC Sport).
1) Philippe Coutinho (7.34)
Without question, the Brazilian has been our best player this season. He is arguably one of the most exciting players we’ve had at Anfield during the Premier League era, in fact. He managed to score five times, and get five assists, and made it into the PFA Team of the Year. More of the same in 2015/16, Phil!