Reds must spend again to retain title

IT WILL not have escaped Liverpool’s attention that the contest for next season’s Premier League title began in Manchester last Thursday. Manchester City’s 4-0 dismantling of Jurgen Klopp’s team was not that important, but it did serve to remind everybody just how deep the reserves of talent run at the Etihad Stadium. City have arguably a better and deeper squad than the champions. If that sounds odd towards the end of a season Liverpool have dominated by a margin of more than 20 points, then so be it. Just take a look at City’s bench the next time they play. It is extraordinary. So, in order to retain their title, Liverpool will probably have to be at least as good as this again. City will be stronger next season and will not lack motivation. They will buy at least one defender this summer and that could make an enormous difference. The question is: what will Liverpool do? The perceived wisdom is that teams should strengthen when they are ahead. During Manchester United’s years of dominance, it was something Alex Ferguson always tried to do, with varying degrees of success. It was something City did not do last summer — they never replaced outgoing captain Vincent Kompany — and it could be argued they paid a heavy price. At Anfield, the situation is complicated by the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other clubs will feel this, too. The fact that Liverpool’s owners initially saw it necessary to furlough staff at the start of the nation’s lockdown — a decision they quickly reversed under public pressure — indicates they feel the organisation is not awash with money.

With the return of supporters to football grounds something that is under only the gentlest of discussion, income streams promise to be low for a while yet. Former captain Graeme Souness pointed out on Sky Sports yesterday that Liverpool’s problem may lie in a lack of depth in the forward positions, on a day Divock Origi deputised for the influential Roberto Firmino. The postponement of January’s Africa Cup of Nations will help Liverpool. They are no longer facing being without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for up to six weeks in the middle of the season. The availability of the front three has been almost constant over the last two years. But if something does give at some stage, what happens? This was a game that cannot be relied on to tell us much. Games behind closed doors are one thing. Playing in an empty stadium when there is no longer anything on the line is quite another. Liverpool, short on adrenalin, looked vulnerable at times. Villa were just not good enough to take advantage — and the closer they get to relegation, the more their own failings in last summer’s transfer window hamper them. It is said the club’s sporting director, Suso, is under pressure — and no wonder. His recommendation that Villa rely on the young Brazilian Wesley for goals now looks just as suspect as his call to replace him when he fell injured with another player from the Belgian leagues, the Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta. Between them, those two forwards costs £30million and the fact young Keinan Davis — signed five years ago from Biggleswade Town — has recently been chosen in that position speaks volumes. Villa have not scored enough goals this season and will pay the price. Goalscorers are important, no matter where in the table you sit.