5 Things for Liverpool Fans to Look Forward to in 2016/17 Season
After a disappointing end to the 2015/16 campaign—capped by the defeat to Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League final in May—Liverpool supporters would be forgiven for approaching the 2016/17 season with a measure of pessimism.
Failing in their efforts to seal European glory, Liverpool also suffered a demoralising loss in February's Capital One Cup final against Manchester City, while a heavy focus on the Europa League saw the Reds finish eighth in the Premier League.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is forced to plan for a season without European football in 2016/17, with a more streamlined approach required from the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
But while Merseyside will put its hopes of continental success on hold, there remains plenty of cause for positivity during the upcoming campaign, with Klopp's presence a major factor behind this.
Here are five things for Liverpool supporters to look forward to next season, including the fruits of Klopp's rigorous pre-season training regime.
Klopp's Tactical Vision Taking Shape
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When Klopp arrived on Merseyside in October, attention quickly turned to how the German could adapt his high-intensity attacking system to a squad inherited from Brendan Rodgers, with gegenpressing becoming a key part of supporters' vocabulary.
But without a pre-season with his squad, Klopp was forced to introduce his methods step by step—navigating a busy schedule of fixtures by rotating his starting lineup and hoping for consistency.
At points, this proved successful, with a much-changed Reds producing an excellent display away to Bournemouth in April. But by equal measure, a 3-2 defeat to Southampton in March showcased Klopp's struggle for tactical uniformity.
The summer brings a key opportunity for Klopp to bed in his ideals, with the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe revealing in May that the Reds will be tasked with triple training sessions and a more refined approach to fitness work, claiming it would be "the toughest pre-season of their careers."
While it will be a demanding summer for Klopp's squad, supporters will likely see the benefits in 2016/17, with Klopp able to impose his complete tactical vision.
New Signings
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Klopp has started his summer's transfer business quickly, securing three signings before the window officially opens, with Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Marko Grujic set to arrive this summer for a combined fee of just £9.8 million.
The German's decisive approach to recruitment can allow a swift transition during the offseason, and supporters can look forward to a number of new players showcasing their talents in Liverpool red in 2016/17.
Karius, a 22-year-old goalkeeper signed from Klopp's former side Mainz, has taken up the No. 1 shirt and will be looking to supplant Simon Mignolet as first-choice goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Matip, a 24-year-old centre-back joining on a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Schalke, arrives to add experience and defensive steel to Klopp's back line, potentially providing a new partner for one of Dejan Lovren or Mamadou Sakho.
Finally, Grujic, a 20-year-old Serbian midfielder, will add strength and dynamism in the middle of the park, looking to complement the likes of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in a fast-moving attacking system.
With more signings likely in the pipeline, supporters can expect a new, and hopefully improved, Liverpool next season.
The Return of Danny Ings and Joe Gomez
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The phrase "like a new signing" is bandied about with monotonous regularity within the English football media, but in Danny Ings and Joe Gomez, Klopp can welcome back a pair of hugely promising players in 2016/17.
Ings and Gomez arrived at Liverpool from Burnley and Charlton Athletic respectively last summer, and both started strongly in their first months under Rodgers.
The former scored three goals in eight appearances, while the latter took up a key role at left-back, contributing to consecutive clean sheets in the opening three games of the Premier League campaign.
But within days of Klopp's arrival in October, both were sidelined with serious knee injuries, ending Gomez's season and limiting Ings to just one further appearance before the end of the campaign—a 26-minute cameo away to West Bromwich Albion on the last day of the season.
Both have the quality required to shine under Klopp: Ings possesses the tenacity and intelligent movement to operate in a floating role in the German's attack, while Gomez's physicality and defensive nous make him an ideal option as Liverpool's back line takes shape for the future.
Supporters can look forward to both taking up prominent roles for their new manager in 2016/17.
More from Liverpool's Promising Youth Ranks
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A lack of European competition could limit the number of opportunities available for Liverpool's fringe players in 2016/17, with the Reds set to play a minimum of just 40 games—23 fewer than in the previous campaign.
However, the strong performances of some of Klopp's promising youth stars should see a number take up focal roles as the German builds his squad for the long term.
Sheyi Ojo and Cameron Brannagan are the most likely to feature, with both impressing throughout 2015/16. Ojo scored one goal and laid on four assists in 11 appearances, while Brannagan produced a man-of-the-match display in May's 1-1 draw away to West Brom.
Meanwhile, the likes of Gomez, Kevin Stewart, Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe will be looking to continue their development, with Klopp's commitment to nurturing young talent one of his defining features as a top-level manager.
Unleashing the likes of Ojo and Brannagan regularly in the Premier League could accelerate their progress, and supporters should relish the prospect during what could be a defining campaign for Klopp's young stars.
Origi's Progress into the Complete No. 9
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"We will have fun with this player, for sure," Klopp told reporters, including James Carroll of the club's official website, after his first game in charge at Liverpool, with Divock Origi leading the line in a 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
This served as a declaration of Klopp's faith in a young talent he attempted to sign when manager at Dortmund, and Origi's development under the 48-year-old throughout 2015/16 highlighted his potential to become the complete No. 9.
Bulking up during a spell on the sidelines over the turn of the year, Origi possesses the strength to complement his pace, flair, versatility and work rate, while his 10 goals for the season showcased a cutting edge in front of goal.
Origi could start 2016/17 as Klopp's first-choice centre-forward, with the youngster often preferred to Daniel Sturridge in the closing months of the season—as was the case in both legs against Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals.
If so, the Belgian is likely to continue his swift progress and could look to emulate the success of a young Robert Lewandowski under Klopp at Westfalenstadion, with plenty of fun in store for his manager.
Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk.
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