Liverpool - Premier League season preview
Last season's finish: 7th
Lawro's prediction: 6th
Lawro's verdict
They will be challenging for Champions League qualification rather than the title next season.
The appointment of Roy Hodgson was a good one, safe hands during uncertain times at the club, especially as they are out of the Champions League.
Keeping star names like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres (right) will be crucial. And ensuring they are happy perhaps even more so. Top six rather than top four.
Gaffer: Roy Hodgson
Big chance for “Woy” but also a big cross against his record if it goes wrong.
Hodgson knows the Anfield natives are revolting at his appointment to replace Rafa Benitez and will have to get off to a flyer to calm the disquiet before it starts to snowball. England ambitions may depend on him doing well under this pressure.
Key Man: Steven Gerrard
Liverpool are too deep in his heart for him ever to have been serious about leaving Anfield.
But that debt of honour is a two-way street and while Gerrard will be the leader, he needs to find like-minded followers who share his desire for the Merseyside cause, and are willing to stand up and fight for a Red revival.
Ins and outs
In
Milan Jovanovic - Standard Liege (Free)
Joe Cole - Chelsea (Free)
Danny Wilson - Rangers (Undisclosed)
Out
Robbie Threlfall - Bradford (Free)
David Martin - MK Dons (Free)
Albert Riera - Olympiacos (Undisclosed)
Yossi Benayoun - Chelsea (Undisclosed)
Fan's eye view
Click here to read the fan's view with Reds supporter Garreth Cummins
Did you know?
Liverpool hit the woodwork 20 times last season, more than any other side. They also hit it the most in 2008/09 (26 times).
Liverpool conceded the lowest percentage of goals (6%) from outside the box in the 2009-10 Premier League.
Big interview: New striker Milan Jovanovic
Milan Jovanovic is so in love with Liverpool that he wants his young son to talk like Jamie Carragher.
The Serbian striker spent the summer months immersing himself in Scouse culture following his free transfer arrival from Standard Liege.
From the story of the Beatles to Liverpool’s standing as the most successful club in English football, Jovanovic is so desperate to succeed on Merseyside that he is learning everything he can.
And the 29-year-old says that even his eldest son Lazaar will become a fully paid-up member of the Kop – at the ripe old age of three.
Jovanovic said: “I have two sons, aged three and two, and the eldest one is beginning to understand what it means to have a father who is a professional footballer.
“He is already a Liverpool fan and he loves football. He plays like me, favouring his left side, and he even sleeps with his ball.
“I hope that watching me play for a great club like Liverpool will help him fall in love with the game even more.
“Maybe one day he will even talk like Jamie Carragher!” Jovanovic added: “When I knew I was signing for Liverpool I felt it was very important to learn as much as I could about the club, the city and the people.
“I have always known about Liverpool’s great history. Eighteen times champions of England, five times winners of the Champions League. This history makes Liverpool the biggest club in England and one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“I think we can make more history in the next few years. But I also learned about the culture of Liverpool. Things like the Beatles and the famous accent that the people have.
“I know about the Kop, about You’ll Never Walk Alone, and I can’t wait to experience the Liverpool fans.
“These years can be the best of my career, when I achieve things that my family can be proud of.”
Jovanovic, whose youngest son is named Dusan, revealed he celebrated as much as the fans when Steven Gerrard announced he was staying loyal to the Liverpool cause.
He said: “I am so happy that Steven Gerrard decided to stay. For me, he is not only one of the best players in the world, he is also a symbol of what Liverpool are about.
“I am proud to be a team-mate of players like Gerrard, Carragher and Torres.
“I spoke to Nemanja Vidic about Liverpool and he said good things about the club and the players we have here.
“Of course, he fights for Man Utd and he thinks they are the best, but Liverpool have had more success.
“Nemanja is a good friend of mine, but I promise him that when we are opponents he will have a big fight.”
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