Pre-season is over, and the first-team squad will now be solely focussing on the away trip to Stoke on Premier League opening weekend.
But during this summer some have given their chances of starting the campaign in the XI better than others, and based solely on how much they’ve impressed over the six friendlies – we’ve ranked them from 24-1.
Jose Enrique, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini haven’t featured, Andrew Wisdom and Rickie Lambert have left – while we’ve not ranked Joe Maguire, Sheyi Ojo, Pedro Chirivella, Ryan Kent and Ryan Fulton as they’re all very unlikely to play a part in 2015/16.
24) Joe Allen
The Welshman picked up a hamstring injury on only his second appearance of pre-season, having been unselected for the entire tour bar the opener in Bangkok. It means Allen will definitely miss the start of the campaign, so his summer really couldn’t have gone much worse.
23) Dejan Lovren
Looked bizarrely out of his depth against a Malaysian XI and missed a hatful of headed chances during the tour. Still looks like he’ll start versus Stoke, mind – much to the despair of Mamadou Sakho and countless Liverpool fans.
22) Alberto Moreno
Struggled to implement himself on games and looks to have lost his place to Joe Gomez at left-back – which nobody would have predicted prior to pre-season. At fault for Swindon’s goal on Sunday too after failing to close the attacker tightly.
21) Jordan Rossiter
Didn’t do badly, but lacks the physicality and passing ability yet for Rodgers to consider himself as a Premier League option.
20) Kolo Toure
Barely featured on tour, bar the first and final games – where in fairness – he was tidy. Don’t expect to see much of Kolo this season unless another defensive crisis strikes.
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19) Adam Bogdan
Solid enough when selected over Mignolet. He looks a genuine improvement on Brad Jones.
18) Lazar Markovic
Bagged early on versus Thai All-Stars and looked sharp thwn, but disappointingly underused by Rodgers throughout, with the manager preferring to hone Jordon Ibe and Adam Lallana’s skills instead.
17) Emre Can
The lung-busting German was with his country at the Euro-U21s early on, so returned to pre-season late with Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. Shone in two reserve fixtures, then bossed the midfield against Swindon on Sunday. It’s unsure whether that’ll be enough to start at Stoke.
16) Roberto Firmino
There was enough in the 67 minutes our Brazilian signing played of pre-season to suggest there’s a serious player there. Firmino passed well, got himself in clever pockets and put the ball on the plate for Benteke – who should have scored.
15) Mamadou Sakho
The Frenchman was very solid against Thai All-Stars and played well versus Brisbane too, scoring against the former. For some reason, Rodgers seems to favour Lovren instead.
14) Lucas
Solid as ever in the anchoring midfield role, Lucas is probably favourite to start the season there against the Potters. You know what you get with Lucas, and that reliability will see him utilised regularly this campaign.
13) Coutinho
Missed all of pre-season bar the trip to Helsinki, where he predictably picked up the Man of the Match award after scoring a goal. The first name on our team-sheet.
12) Christian Benteke
Benteke’s cameo against Swindon saw him score one of the best friendly goals we’ve ever seen, and it’s that alone which has seen us rank him halfway up this list ahead of players who racked up more minutes. More of the same please, Christian.
11) Danny Ings
Ings notched a hat-trick in an unofficial friendly against Felda United, and also bagged against Adelaide United after impressively rounding the stopper. Worked hard, but missed a few chances he’d expect to take, too.
10) Divock Origi
The live-wire Belgian was hit and miss over pre-season, but did find the back of the net twice. He’s not a natural finisher, but his raw talent and physicality has been clear to see.
9) Simon Mignolet
Mignolet only conceded once in his five outings, which we hope will fill him with confidence ahead of the new season. Looked to communicate well with his defenders too, and will be desperate for a clean-sheet at the scene of last season’s humiliation in less than a week’s time.
8) Joao Teixeira
The young Portuguese has been one of the real success stories of pre-season, and his performances will warrant him a role as an active member of our first-team squad in 2015/16. Whether in the middle or front part of the 4-3-3, Teixeira passed the ball incisively, and brilliantly scored from 40 yards out against Felda United.
7) Nathaniel Clyne
Looks a really solid signing at right-back. The former Southampton man formed an effective relationship up the right with Jordon Ibe, overlapping his team-mate when necessary. Most importantly though, he’s a dramatic defensive improvement on Glen Johnson.
6) Martin Skrtel
Skrtel signed a new contract this summer, and hasn’t put a defensive foot wrong in pre-season in fairness – establishing his position as Rodgers’ first-choice centre-back. It looks like he’ll begin the campaign alongside Lovren, and it’ll be vital for him to help his younger Croat partner as much as possible.
5) Jordan Henderson
Visibly enjoyed wearing the armband. Henderson even picked up from where Gerrard left off in terms of his seamless off the field duties, which are not to be smirked at on a pre-season tour of the Far East. He looks fully fit, and even oozed a bit of class at times to complement his brilliant engine.
4) Adam Lallana
Two goals from Lallana during pre-season will make it difficult for Rodgers to select anyone else on the left of midfield at Stoke. The midfielder’s looked silky at times, and his creativity and goalscoring touch makes him a serious asset for us this term if he can stay fit.
3) Joe Gomez
From seemingly nowhere, Gomez is now our starting left-back, despite playing right-back for Championship side Charlton last year. He’s been that good. The 18-year-old’s physicality belies his age, as does his technical ability and composure. We’ve got no worries for him against Stoke.
2) James Milner
Signing Milner on a Bosman seems a masterstroke from Rodgers and the club. He’s bedded into the side in his favoured central midfield role seamlessly, scoring twice during pre-season and displaying the cool, experienced head we needed upon the departure of Steven Gerrard. We think Liverpool will be as good for Milner as he’ll be for us.
1) Jordon Ibe
Devastating down the right flank, time and time again. Ibe had every fullback he lined up during pre-season for breakfast, and it was only a surprise when he didn’t get to the byline after taking a defender on. He is a ruthless combination of skill, pace and power. His left-footed strike against Malaysia XI was particularly jaw-dropping, and perhaps most impressively – proved he’s got a side of his game which the departed Raheem Sterling hasn’t. To get £49m for an unhappy Sterling when Ibe’s waiting in the wings seems terrific business, too. We hope he gets the chances this season that his summer showings have earned.
