It’s been a busy month on Merseyside – five new players already and the prospect of a much happier season surely growing with each addition. This weeks signing of Brazilian international Roberto Firmino has certainly gone down very well with supporters and has us dreaming of a renewed top four challenge… maybe more!
SEE MORE:
Roberto Firmino scout report: position, strengths, how he’d help Liverpool & more
Liverpool will part with these six players claims report, including Manquillo & Borini
BBC Sport confirm Roberto Firmino’s transfer fee and contract details
So which of the deals that we’ve made thus far is going to have the biggest impact on our season? In the list below, we grade each incoming player and discuss our thoughts on both their transfer and their prospects at Anfield.
James Milner – B+
While he might not the big name addition that we might have been hoping for in our midfield, he’s certainly the safest option our owners could have gone for. Most importantly, he will replace a large chunk of the experience lost following Steven Gerrard’s departure. He also has plenty more to offer – his versatility could prove crucial, while his work-rate has long-since been admired. He’s got an impressive CV that includes two Premier League titles and an FA Cup, so let’s hope that he can bring that same winning mentality with him to Merseyside.
Danny Ings – C
We got the sense that a lot of Liverpool fans were underwhelmed by this signing. However, we need to hope / remember that this is just one piece of the puzzle. Our strikeforce hugely underperformed last season and it will come as no surprise if it is reshaped from top to bottom. Divock Origi is also coming back and Daniel Sturridge will join both him and Ings in our list of attacking candidates. If we can get one more to go with that trio, then Ings will be allowed to play an important back-up role that should suit him nicely at his still tender age.
Adam Bogdan – D
We all wanted a top level goalkeeper who would be putting huge pressure on Simon Mignolet for the number one spot. But only a handful of clubs around the world can afford to have two great keepers battling for one spot in the team and even fewer clubs can keep both players happy. The Hungarian is a solid acquisition, one who comes to us with a decent record and more experience of playing in the Premier League than Brad Jones has ever managed to acquire. Hopefully he’ll get his chance in the Europa League and prove that he’s a more than decent number two.
Joe Gomez – C+
Potential, lots of it. We’ve signed a lot of that for our defence in recent years and watched it come and go. But with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger gone and Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure both in the latter years of their career, it’s vitally important that we begin to look to the future. Between this England youth team international, who will also offer us cover at right-back, and the impressive Tiago Ilori, who has been shining at the U21 Championships, with Portugal, we potentially have a future central defensive pairing. Let’s hope they both prove us right.
Roberto Firmino – A-
You only have to look at his statistics to realise what a coup this is for us… he’s been involved in more goals and assists than any Brazilian player in the top five European Leagues over the last three-and-a-half years. Last season he provided more assists and, bizarrely, more tackles than any Liverpool player. He’s young, he’s hungry, he can play in a number of positions, and he’s got people excited. We’re tired of seeing the gambles that don’t work out, we wanted class and quality, and we’ve got just that. Let’s just hope that he can deliver and do us proud.
