Liverpool Premier League season preview 2015/16

All the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds ahead of Liverpool's 2015/16 season.

Position last season: 6th

Sky Bet title odds: 28/1

Ins: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa), Adam Bogdan (Bolton), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim), Joe Gomez (Charlton), Danny Ings (Burnley), James Milner (Man City)

Outs: Sebastian Coates (Sunderland), Steven Gerrard (Los Angeles Galaxy), Glen Johnson (Stoke), Brad Jones (Released), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Rickie Lambert (West Brom)

Overview

It will be Jordan Henderson leading out the team this season as Liverpool begin the post-Steven Gerrard era at Anfield. Raheem Sterling’s high-profile exit means Brendan Rodgers must reshape the team following the loss of a key player for the second successive summer.

With Liverpool having signed off 2014/15 with their worst ever Premier League result, a 6-1 defeat at Stoke, the pressure will be on Rodgers from the outset and the opening-weekend rematch with the Potters could be a good yardstick.

Much will surely depend on the new additions adapting quicker than last summer’s signings and, in particular, that means Christian Benteke settling rather better than Mario Balotelli did on Merseyside. Can Liverpool bounce back? They’ll need to score more than their 52-goal tally of 2014/15 to get back in the mix for Champions League football.

Phil Thompson's view: "There have been a lots of signings again but some look a lot more experienced than last summer, with Milner, Clyne and Benteke all very good acquisitions. A lot of people are underwhelmed by Benteke but I’m not one of them. He was the league's top hitman in the last third of the season but after that disappointing FA Cup final performance people were put off, but you can’t judge a player on one game and I think he will be great.

"Liverpool are the most likely to break into the top four but it’s time to wait and see. One thing that was missing was goals so the biggest thing is Benteke delivering, especially with no idea as to when Daniel Sturridge will return." 

Phil Thompson's one to watch: "Roberto Firmino. Everybody is waiting to see what he’s like in the Premier League and if he can be anywhere as good as Coutinho then we’ve got a great signing."

Opta stats

- Liverpool ended the 2014/15 season with 52 goals, the same number that Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge scored between them in 2013-14.

- Liverpool pair Jordan Henderson and Simon Mignolet played more games in all competitions last season than any other Premier League player (54).

- Liverpool ended the 2014/15 season with their worst ever Premier League defeat (1-6) and it was the first time they’ve conceded 6+ goals in a league game since losing 7-2 to Tottenham in 1963.