7 Biggest Reasons for Liverpool Fans to Be Hopeful for the Future

Another close season, and another period of reflection for Liverpool’s long-suffering but ever-patient supporters; however, if they look hard enough, there is still much to be optimistic about going forward.

Not convinced? Read on, as we at Bleacher Report have seven reasons for Reds fans to be hopeful for the future…

Managing Expectations

New head coach Brendan Rodgers may have only been in the Anfield hot seat for just the one season now after replacing Reds legend Kenny Dalglish last June, but the 40-year-old has made a more than promising start to life on Merseyside.

Yes, the Reds may have only finished one place higher in the Premier League standings in May than they had done the previous year under the Scot, but it is the way that the team have been playing under his successor that really bodes well for the future.

And do not forget either that legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took a whole three years to win the first of his many trophies at Old Trafford.

Top-Six Upheaval

Champions Manchester United, runners-up Manchester City, UEFA Europa League winners Chelsea and sixth-placed Everton have all taken the unusual steps of replacing their managers this summer, with there also being the possibility of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur needing to bring in a new trainer for next season, too.

All of which would leave Rodgers as the second-longest serving manager in one’s current role out of the top-seven clubs from last season, behind Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, of course.

And despite all the protestations to the contrary, nobody can be entirely sure just how each one of these new coaches will fare in his new role next season, which has to give the Reds just a glimmer of hope going forward that the cycle of success may be about to turn full circle again and return to Anfield.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Liverpool finally decided last year to redevelop their existing ground rather than move to a new purpose-built stadium in Stanley Park, although they still need to purchase more houses in the surrounding areas to be able to push these plans forward.

However, as The Independent reports, managing director Ian Ayre recently confirmed that:

"

Real progress has been made in acquiring them. Once they have all been acquired we will go through the planning process.

We would expect to be in a position to make that a certainty this summer. Once planning has been achieved then we can start construction.

"

And when that has been completed, the Reds will have increased Anfield’s capacity to 60,000, which will in turn allow the club to finally be able to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City on a more even financial footing.

50 Million Reasons to Be Happy ….

Now while most Liverpool fans may be dreading the thought of word-class forward Luis Suarez leaving the club this summer to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, the Uruguay international’s impending exit should actually be a cause of optimism on Merseyside.

Why? Well for the simple reasons that if, as expected, the Reds receive their £50 million asking price for the coveted attacker, then Rodgers will be able to embark on a huge foray into the transfer market this summer armed with bundles of cash with which to bring some of the best players on Planet Football to Anfield to replace Suarez next season and beyond.

Excited now? Yes, I thought so!

Going Round in Circles

Success in football is cyclical, as Liverpool and Manchester United fans will testify to after both have had to endure long periods of time without being crowned top-flight champions.

The Red Devils had to suffer 26 long years of pain between winning their seventh title in 1967 and their eighth in 1993.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been without a league championship win since 1990, meaning it is now 23 years and counting between title No. 18 and No. 19.

And so if the exact same pattern were to play itself out again going forward with the two biggest clubs in England, that would make last season’s title at Old Trafford United’s last in this cycle, with Liverpool set for a return to glory with a long-awaited league championship in three years’ time …

Samba Magic

Ever since impish Brazil international Philippe Coutinho arrived on Merseyside from Inter Milan for just £8.5m in the January transfer window, the sun seems to have been shining on the Reds.

The 21-year-old playmaker registered an eye-catching three goals and seven assists in just his 12 Premier League starts since the turn of the year, and it is safe to say that were the creator to carry on in a similar vein of attacking form for Liverpool going forward, then there are going to be a lot of smiles seen around Anfield in the future.

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