Predicting Liverpool’s post-transfer window starting eleven

By This Is Anfield

      Saturday 31 Aug 2013 5:02 pm    

LFC boss Brendan Rodgers is looking to secure players that will further strengthen his squad for the new season. (Picture: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

After a solid start to the  transfer window , bringing in four new signings before the players had even returned to pre-season training, Liverpool’s summer dealings had taken an underwhelming turn – that is, until now.
It appears that they are about to make four more additions, adding to the four early arrivals of Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Simon Mignolet, along with loan signing Aly Cissokho.
The new fab four, if reports are indeed proved accurate, are to be defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, back-up keeper Shay Given and winger Victor Moses – the latter two possibly being loan deals.
Those potential nine new signings will  leave Liverpool’s squad undoubtedly stronger  than it was in May. Add in that Luis Suarez has remained at the club and all of a sudden this transfer window has taken on a whole new complexion to what it had less than a week ago.
The late signings will also allow Liverpool to offload Martin Skrtel, loan out Andre Wisdom, and possibly allow Fabio Borini to head out on loan too. Good for the finances and the squad development.
How about this as a post-transfer-window strongest eleven: Mignolet, Johnson, Toure, Agger, Sakho, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge. With a subs bench of Given, Ilori, Allen, Sterling, Moses, Aspas and Kelly. Leaving Ibe, Alberto and Enrique as back-up. That’s a pretty competitive, creative and balanced squad.
The signing of Moses, as previously explained, can be a shrewd signing for Liverpool – and would add attacking options from the left. In more winnable games, particularly at home, Brendan Rodgers could replace Henderson (or even Gerrard) in that eleven listed above, with Moses, moving Coutinho more central to the ‘number 10′ role.
There’s also a wealth of attacking options, with Moses, Aspas and Suarez all capable of playing in more than one of the front three positions. Suarez can replace Sturridge through the middle and there is no over-reliance on one or the other.
Meanwhile at the back, Sakho can be a  superb addition; also providing a solid alternative to Enrique at left-back. Rodgers also has Cissokho there to provide much needed competition.
Hopefully Liverpool get these protracted deals closed out and provide a huge boost ahead of the visit of Man United to Anfield on Sunday. The Anfield crowd should be in fine voice with the club commemorating the birthday of Bill Shankly with a flag day and pre-match mosaic planned.
Bring on ya Manchester United…