Is this their year? If they can keep their starting XI healthy, it sure looks like it could be. However, they've already lost Alonso to Madrid and his replacement, Aquilani, is injured for the next month or two. Their senior central defenders are all doubtful for the start of the season as are, most importatntly, Gerrard and Torres. It's the latter pairing that will determine Liverpool's season and possibly the fate of the fantasy season as well. Gerrard is the most expensive player in the game following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. When he was let off his chains by Benitez at the end of last season he was a fantasy monster. And inded Liverpool as a whole prospered under their new attacking remit. Hopefully that will remain the case. As a statement of intent, Aquilani replacing the more staid if slicker Alonso, seems to suggest that it will.
But they will have to stay healthy. There is a steep drop-off in quality between the starters and the players on the bench. Babel, N'Zog, Plessis... these aren't the names to strike fear in opponents or hope in fantasy managers. It also means that if Liverpool don't make the break-through in matches there isn't likely to be a plan B. All this has me a bit worried about backing their defenders in fantasy. Insua is a reasonable bet, but between the injuries and price tags, I don't want to get involved otherwise. And even then, the left-back spot is probably Aurelio's once he returns from his latest injury.
So it all comes down to Torres and Gerrard. And perhaps Aquilani as a bargain midfielder.
But they will have to stay healthy.
Possible Starting XI: Reina, G Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas(Aquilani when healthy), Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres
Players to Watch:
Fernando Torres: Gerrard is going to be Gerrard - he's priced at over 20 to start the season and he's worth it but he'd be much more attractive if he were priced like Nando at just over 17. Where Gerrard had his best season last year, Nando wasn't nearly as good as we know he's capable of and yet he still finished the season getting just 2 points less per match than Gerrard. If you're looking for value even among the expensive players on your roster, you have to think Torres has more upside to picking him than Gerrard does.
Emiliano Insua: The big question at Anfield (OK, other than who replaces Xavi Alonso and whether Mascherano stays and whether Torres can stay healthy) is "who is the first choice left back?" The contenders are Aurelio and Insua and if the youngster wins - and Aurelio is injured again to start this season - then he's a decent value. Unfortunately, his price is already pretty inflated from the run of matches last season when he started and played well. That said, even at 8.5 he'd be one of the cheapest regular starting defenders on a Big Four team. Given Liverpool's questionable talent at left wing (Reira really didn't produce too much or too regularly), he might even get the occasional run there (or Aurelio might get that run ensuring that Insua gets the left back spot).
Glen Johnson: Obviously one fo the big stories of the off-season was Johnson going to Liverpool for what seemed (to me at least) to be WAY too much money. He was already found insufficient as a Big Four starter once and one wonders what his time at Pompey did to help him up the level of his game. If you then look at his fantasy price that comes in at over 11 and you have to wonder how he could live up to either his real world or fantasy transfer fee. I'm just not feeling it.
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