A trip to Anfield beckons this weekend for Palace so we had a chat with Sam McGuire from Anfield Index.
Q. What were you hopes and dreams for the season before a ball was kicked?
I hoped we would see a much improved Liverpool side to the one we all had the misfortune of watching last season. I liked the signings, they addressed some clear issues the squad had but I just was not sure we would see them being used correctly under Brendan Rodgers so my optimism was subdued.
Q. How do you rate the squad that has been put together for this season?
As I said, I think some of the signings addressed issues we had as a squad but the management still managed to overlook some glaring problems. A right sided centre-back and a defensive midfielder would have been must haves for me. On the whole though the signings of Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Nathanial Clyne and even to some extent Adam Bogdan improved the squad. It is nice to have a back-up goalkeeper that acknowledges the fact that he can use his hands. It is a top five squad when everybody is fit.
Q. Do you agree that it was the right time for the club to make a change to the managerial position?
No. It is of my opinion the club should have dismissed Brendan Rodgers last December. Usually I am a strong believer in patience but with Manchester United being average I thought it could have been a great opportunity to keep them out of the Champions League for two consecutive seasons. The football Brendan Rodgers was praised for was non-existent for the entirety of last season and it was just prolonging the inevitable. I hoped the club would make the change in the summer after such an embarrassing end to the season but Rodgers, for whatever reason, got a stay of execution.
Q. Is Jurgen Klopp the man to take Liverpool back to the glory days?
Jurgen Klopp took Borussia Dortmund from being an average Bundesliga side to the Champions League final and along the way won two league titles. He is undoubtedly the man to oversee what could be the awakening of a European giant. That is not being a delusional fan either, it is just Liverpool have perpetually underachieved for a quarter of a century now. It is really now or never.
Q. Do you expect an overhaul of the playing squad and do you think there needs to be?
It is too early to say. If Klopp wants to bring that style to Liverpool then yes, there are players that will not suit it and there are players needed for that style to work effectively. However, there is no guarantee Klopp wants to replicate that style so I would not like to write off any players just yet.
Q. Has the absence of injury prone striker Daniel Sturridge effected Liverpool?
Without a doubt. It would be like Palace facing Liverpool without Dwight Gayle! Daniel Sturridge is an elite Premier League striker, his goal-scoring record speaks for itself and any club would miss a player of that quality. Fit and firing it is of my opinion he is a £40 million striker, second only to Sergio Aguero in the Premier League. Christian Benteke was signed to ease the burden on Sturridge and he has done well in terms of goals so far this season but he does not bring to the side what Sturridge does. For example, I do not think many teams are fearful of Benteke getting in behind them so they can play a high line. So even though the quality of striking options has improved, we have still not addressed Sturridge’s lack of availability.
Q. Who do you think will win the domestic competitions this season – Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup?
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – he says with a straight face! Seriously though, the Premier League looks as though it is Manchester City’s to lose with potentially Arsenal pushing them a little more than usual. Liverpool have a reasonable enough chance in the League Cup but so do Everton and Manchester City. The FA Cup is a tricky one. I do not think Arsenal will retain it because they could be embroiled in a title push. Gun to my head, I will say Chelsea and whoever their interim manager is at the time.
Q. Name a Liverpool player that Palace should be wary of and a Palace player that Liverpool should be wary of and why?
Many fans and pundits have been writing off Roberto Firmino but I think he is slowly getting a feel for the side so I think Palace should be wary of our newest Brazilian. I know Palace are well drilled defensively but I think Firmino’s movement and direct style could give you a few problems on Sunday. A Palace player Liverpool should be wary of? I am not as concerned with our defence as I would have been with Rodgers in charge but I still think there are opportunities there for the opposition. Martin Skrtel gets terrorised by anybody with pace so the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Wilfried Zaha, Bakary Sako or Jason Puncheon could give us problems.
Q. Your prediction?
My heart says a Liverpool win but my head says score draw. I watched the Palace match against United and you should have won, emphatically. If Liverpool manage to deal with the pace of your side I am still a little hesitant about facing your set pieces which are like grenades being thrown into the penalty area. Liverpool cannot defend or attack set pieces, our corners do not usually beat the first man, and that is why I am saying score draw. I am fully aware that having said all of that Skrtel will score two headed goals from corners.
Q. And finally, please tell us about any projects that you are currently working on or anything else that you wish to promote.
Just check out the Anfield Index website where I usually do three or four pieces a week as well as good content from other writers. Aside from Liverpool stuff I also write for These Football Times which is one of the best football sites going. I talk tactics and trends in modern football as well as interview coaches.
