Liverpool opinion – Three areas where the Reds need to improve to beat City

After amassing 97 points in a league season, one cannot question anything about how Liverpool played. However, that was not enough to win them the title, as Manchester City, who have probably assembled the best squad in Europe, won it by a point on the final day.

To think that the Reds could have done more in the last 10 months to win the league would be crazy, to say the least. Jurgen Klopp and his men did everything in their might to change their fate at Anfield, but Pep Guardiola’s team edged past them in one of the title races for the ages.

But while the Cityzens would no doubt aim to improve and look to continue their superiority in the English top-flight, Liverpool might have to take one more giant step to close that one-point gap into a title victory.

Here are the three areas in which they need solid backup to help the first-team throughout the course of a league season:

Another left-back to help Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson has been the best left-back in the league for the past 12 months now. He is generally super fit and plays most games in a season with the same amount of intensity.

However, Klopp doesn’t have much choice if/when the Scotsman needs rest or gets slightly injured in between a season. Alberto Moreno is all but gone this summer (h/t Daily Express), while banking on James Milner to provide that backup would be close to foolishness.

Hence, the Reds must focus on signing a left-back, who can support Robertson and play a good amount of games. For that reason, Lloyd Kelly could be a perfect addition.

The Bristol City defender is still a young player, who can play at left-back and at centre-back if required. He has great potential and could really challenge Robertson for his place. Liverpool have been linked with him as well (h/t Liverpool FC).

The Reds now must make sure that Kelly does join them in the summer window.

A winger to back up Salah/Mane

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are two main sources of goals from the wide forward positions for Liverpool. However, the squad doesn’t boast a player who can directly replace either of them.

Xherdan Shaqiri was bought last summer, but he has generally played with both of them in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Thus, it is clear that the Swiss maestro isn’t a direct replacement/backup.

For that reason, the club must focus on buying a goal-scoring winger, who can play in place of Salah or Mane at any time during a season. What it will do is lessen the load on the duo and help the team when their form takes a dip.

Julian Brandt, who can play in any position across the front-line, is being linked with the Reds. (h/t Daily Star) The German international would be a perfect foil to this team and Jurgen Klopp.

Keep Clyne or find a backup for Trent

In Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool have one of the best right-backs in the country. But, he is still young and burdening him may not be a good idea.

Furthermore, whenever Klopp has tried to rest him and play Joe Gomez at right-back, it hasn’t worked. This is chiefly because the latter is a centre-back, who at times can play as a full-back, but not for a whole game.

Hence, signing a new right-back to support Trent and keeping Nathaniel Clyne seem like the two viable solutions, out of which the latter looks ideal.

Clyne, who is currently out on loan at Bournemouth, is an experienced player now, who can fight for his place in the team. Klopp must have two genuine right-backs in his squad to challenge on all fronts next season onwards.

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Conclusion

The above-mentioned three areas are a must for Liverpool to improve on come this summer window. If they manage to succeed in doing that, then we can say that the Reds are ready to be perfect and beat Manchester City in the league.