Ranking Liverpool's Top 5 Players for 2015
Though it was far from a vintage year for Liverpool, 2015 saw enough kernels of strong form and individual brilliance to provide supporters with encouragement as we embark on another 12 months of action on Merseyside.
After a sixth-placed finish in 2014/15, another failure to secure silverware and a poor start to the current campaign, Brendan Rodgers was dismissed from his position as Reds manager in October, underlining the struggles of this storied club in 2015.
But Rodgers' successor, the charismatic Jurgen Klopp, has recaptured the imaginations of the Kop, and as the German continues to settle into his position, he can cherish the performances of many of his new players.
So who were Liverpool's five best performers in 2015?
For the purposes of this ranking, factors including quality, influence, significance and consistency have been considered, while only players still in Klopp's squad are included.
This means that neither of Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard make the cut but could slot in comfortably alongside a number of honourable mentions, including Simon Mignolet and Nathaniel Clyne.
Kicking off our countdown is Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno, who has built on a positive first season with an even better start to 2015/16.
5. Alberto Moreno
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Moreno joined the Reds in the summer of 2014 from Sevilla, with Rodgers sanctioning a £12 million outlay to secure the services of a young, talented option in a position that has long represented a problem for Liverpool managers.
Though Rodgers may have lost faith in the left-back at points in 2015, Moreno's performances over the last 12 months have made him an invaluable asset for the club.
This has been magnified following the arrival of Klopp, and the German has looked to optimise Moreno's talents in the attacking third, while the player has continued to iron out concentration issues when in defence.
His performance in Liverpool's 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City in September, for example, perfectly highlighted his growing confidence in the role.
So far in 2015/16, Moreno has averaged more key passes than any other Premier League defender, with 2.2 per 90 minutes.
That £12 million continues to represent a bargain for Liverpool.
4. Mamadou Sakho
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Liverpool began 2015 on an impressive unbeaten streak that eventually stretched to 13 games in the Premier League, and much of their success during this period was due to Rodgers' switch to an unorthodox 3-4-2-1 formation.
This saw a strong, three-man defence keep seven clean sheets in 10 games during that run in 2015, and the output of Mamadou Sakho as Liverpool's rock at centre-back played a crucial role.
Sakho was forced to compete with £20 million summer signing Dejan Lovren in 2014/15, with Rodgers seemingly unaware of the Frenchman's enduring quality, but when he carved out a regular role in the Reds' first team in 2015, he rarely failed to deliver.
Strong, resolute and technically gifted, Sakho is a modern, ball-playing centre-back with natural leadership qualities, as he proved wearing the captain's armband in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Bordeaux in October.
Signing a new contract with the club in September, Sakho looks set to hold down a spot in Klopp's lineup for years to come.
3. Emre Can
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After an initial five months playing a peripheral role for Rodgers following his £10 million move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, Emre Can was installed alongside Sakho and Martin Skrtel in Rodgers' three-man defence—and, typically, the German excelled.
This kicked off an extended period that saw Rodgers utilise Can as his utility man, popping up at centre-back, right-back, left-back, defensive midfield and even further ahead in the No. 10 role.
For the majority of this spell, Can performed to a high standard—though his run at right-back towards the end of 2014/15 underlined just why Rodgers would have been wrong to depend on him as a long-term option in defence.
Spending a summer highlighting his qualities in midfield with Germany's Under-21s side in the European Championships, Can targeted a run in his favoured position, and with Rodgers duly obliging, he has impressed.
This has continued under Klopp, and his performances throughout December—strong, sharp and intelligent—have made Can one to keep an eye on in 2016, with B/R's Sam Tighe naming the 21-year-old at No. 72 in his list of 100 players to watch out for.
2. Jordan Henderson
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After spending much of 2014/15 filling in for Gerrard as Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson was awarded the role on a permanent basis following the long-serving midfielder's summer move to LA Galaxy.
This is a testament of Henderson's importance to this Liverpool side—similarly as with the long-term contract he signed back in April.
Henderson perfectly encapsulates the ethos of the club, becoming a key player for Rodgers due to his industry, energy and creativity, and he looks set to continue this focal role under Klopp.
Making 38 appearances for the club in 2015, Henderson stamped his authority on the Liverpool squad, with a true captain's performance in April's 2-0 win at home to Burnley in the Premier League serving as one of many highlights in a profitable 12 months.
Struggling with a troublesome foot injury towards the end of 2015, however, Henderson's durability will be tested with Klopp's side steeling themselves for the race for a top-four finish as 2015/16 comes to a close.
1. Philippe Coutinho
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Philippe Coutinho is the one Liverpool player who developed the most over the course of 2015, and the Brazilian's performances in the No. 10 shirt have helped supporters gloss over the departure of Luis Suarez and the many, many injuries of Daniel Sturridge.
Previously a subtly influential playmaker, Coutinho honed his skills in 2015 to become a genuine match-winner, scoring 11 goals and registering seven assists last year.
This included sensational strikes against Manchester City, Southampton, Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City, and his top-level display at the heart of Liverpool's attack in November's 4-1 win away to City showcased his brilliance when on form.
Like Sakho and Henderson, Coutinho also signed a new contract with Liverpool in 2015, telling the club's official website in February that "it's a dream come true playing for this great club and being part of this squad."
Also rising to become a key player for Dunga's Brazil side in 2015, the last year has been a special one for Coutinho—now he must look to build on this and find true consistency operating at the highest level.
Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk.
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