Liverpool FC's End-of-Year Awards, 2016
In football, awards season typically comes at the end of a campaign, in May, but the end of 2016 provides a sensible juncture to assess progress made on and off the pitch—particularly for Liverpool, given December marks the end of Jurgen Klopp’s first full year as manager.
The Reds’ final clash of 2016 comes at home to Manchester City on December 31, and their success—or lack thereof—in this Anfield clash will determine where they close the year in the Premier League table.
Nevertheless, their status as title contenders in 2016/17 is a marker of the swift progress made under Klopp over the past 12 months—after 18 games, they’ve taken 40 points, just six fewer than league leaders Chelsea, while no side in the Premier League has scored more goals (45).
In fact, only one side in Europe’s top five leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1) have found the back of the net on more occasions this season: AS Monaco (56).
Meanwhile, despite Liverpool under-23s coach Michael Beale’s recent departure to join Rogerio Ceni at Brazilian club Sao Paulo, the Reds’ academy has taken great strides in 2016, under the watchful eye of director Alex Inglethorpe.
So who has stood out for Liverpool over the course of 2016? Here are Bleacher Report’s end-of-year awards, determined subjectively based on performances and progress across the past 12 months.
Best Academy Player: Sheyi Ojo
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The Liverpool academy has been handed a major boost by Klopp’s arrival, with the German saying shortly after his appointment that "the door is wide-open" for young players under his management.
Working alongside Inglethorpe and elite development coach Pepijn Lijnders, Klopp regularly assesses the quality within the club’s youth ranks, with Lijnders' Talent Group training at the first-team facility at Melwood every Tuesday.
Klopp has handed the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria and Ben Woodburn their senior debuts in 2016, but the academy player to stand out most prominently is 19-year-old winger Sheyi Ojo.
Ojo returned from a muted loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers in January and went on to establish himself as a useful attacking option for Klopp in the second half of 2015/16: He scored once and assisted four times in 11 games, averaging a direct goal contribution every 45 minutes.
Currently working his way back to full fitness following a back injury, Ojo is primed to make more of an impact under Klopp in 2017—but for now, he will continue his fine progress back in the academy.
Best Young Player: Divock Origi
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Distinguishing our winner for Best Academy Player and Best Young Player brings a broadening of criteria, with any player aged 21 or under at the end of 2016 considered.
This rules out 22-year-old Emre Can, despite the German’s fine performances throughout the year, but turns attention towards Divock Origi, who enjoyed a major breakthrough under Klopp in 2016.
The second half of 2015/16 saw Origi usurp Daniel Sturridge as Klopp’s first-choice centre-forward and saw him score vital goals against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League.
While his game time was initially limited heading into 2016/17, Origi has now re-established himself as a key player within Klopp’s attack and has notched seven goals and two assists in 19 games in all competitions.
It is easy to forget he is still just 21, with his brutish physicality, phenomenal pace and blossoming predatory instinct making him one of Klopp’s standout stars.
Most Improved Player: Adam Lallana
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No player has taken to Klopp’s philosophy at Liverpool quite like Adam Lallana, with the England international experiencing a major upturn in fortunes under his new manager across 2016.
Klopp has successfully navigated concerns over Lallana’s fitness, with the midfielder now thriving in a new box-to-box role as the leader of Liverpool’s pressing system, while he has also coaxed a cutting edge back into his game.
This season, only Sadio Mane (eight) has scored more goals than Lallana (seven), and with the 28-year-old also assisting six, he is already closing in on his tally for the previous campaign—he scored seven and assisted eight in 49 games in all competitions in 2015/16.
In his recent column for the Mail, ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher described Lallana as "currently the best English player in the division," and it is hard to disagree following his transformation in 2016.
Best Signing: Sadio Mane
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When Klopp moved to bring Mane to Liverpool from Southampton in the summer, there were murmurings of discontent throughout the Reds' support, with his lofty £30 million transfer fee presenting a red flag.
But the Senegalese has quickly relieved any doubts over his ability, with his eight goals and seven assists in 19 games making him Liverpool’s most influential player in front of goal in 2016/17 so far.
His pace, direct attacking play and dogged determination have made him a key feature of Klopp’s attacking line, and that 2017 begins with a clamour to find cover for him on his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations highlights his importance to the cause.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Joel Matip have been similarly impressive, but Mane’s impact on Klopp’s attack make him Liverpool’s most outstanding signing of 2016.
Best Goal: Daniel Sturridge (UEFA Europa League Final, May 18)
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Sturridge has become something of a luxury player for Klopp in 2016, given the striker’s persistent injury issues, and he has played just 523 minutes of football across 13 games so far this season.
The 27-year-old notched his first Premier League goal of the campaign in the recent 4-1 victory at home to Stoke City, and this stands as his seventh league strike in the whole of 2016.
However, when Sturridge does score, they are often outstanding efforts—such as his goal against Sevilla in the Europa League final in May—an incredible, instinctive effort with the outside of his boot that has since been replicated as part of BT Sport’s #GoalsRecreated series.
Roberto Firmino’s long-range strike against Arsenal in January, Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick against the same club in August and Dejan Lovren’s late header against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals are all worthy of praise, but for pure technique, Sturridge’s goal deserves the prize.
Best Match: Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund
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When Liverpool were drawn against Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals, fate seemed to smile down on Klopp—pitting his current and former sides against each other in a must-win clash.
After Mats Hummels’ header cancelled out Origi’s opener in the first leg at the Westfalenstadion, a tense finale was set up at Anfield, and Merseyside provided the perfect backing throughout.
Klopp will have feared the worst when Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Dortmund 2-0 up within nine minutes in the second leg, while Marco Reus’ goal dampened spirits further after Origi had clawed one back.
But with less than 25 minutes to play and Dortmund leading 4-2 on aggregate, a belief remained around Liverpool’s home ground—and supporters were rewarded with a comeback reminiscent of the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005.
Coutinho struck first, before laying on Mamadou Sakho’s stooping header to level the scores, and with Dortmund still leading on away goals, Lovren rose above all others in the penalty area in stoppage time to power home Liverpool’s winner.
It was a sensational European night for the Reds, and while they failed to secure the Europa League title in May, this stands as one of the most memorable clashes in the club’s recent history.
Best Player: Philippe Coutinho
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While Lallana has provided Liverpool with Klopp’s midfield driving force and Mane has added further impetus in the attacking third since his arrival, no Liverpool player has enjoyed a more consistently impressive year than Coutinho.
The Brazilian was handed the Reds’ Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Performance of the Year and Goal of the Year awards for the 2015/16 campaign in May, and his influence has only grown throughout the current campaign.
His hand in the comeback triumph against Dortmund in the Europa League was indicative of his importance to Klopp’s Reds, and he is now stepping up to elite status under the German’s management.
Regular links with a move to Barcelona highlight Coutinho’s growing quality and the broader appreciation of his ability, but Klopp must do all he can to keep this rare calibre of player on Merseyside.
Honourable mention, however, also goes to Coutinho’s compatriot, Firmino, who has grown in stature over the past 12 months, but Liverpool’s No. 10 is more deserving of acclaim in 2016.
Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Follow Jack on Twitter—@jacklusby—and Facebook here.
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