In Focus: Klopp's Kop kings look ready to challenge

 Liverpool head into the new season with a point to prove.

After a disappointing title defence, the Reds will want to right a few wrongs and dispel some of the myths following their collapse at the turn of the year.

Jurgen Klopp has added just Ibrahima Konate to his ranks this summer but that might be enough to see them rival Manchester City for the crown once again.

Ahead of their Premier League opener against Norwich on Saturday night, we examine whether the Merseysiders have what it takes to reclaim their crown.

Defensive reinforcements

Hopes of retaining the title were irreversibly damaged when Virgil van Dijk hobbled off against Everton in Liverpool's fifth game of 2020-21. 

Joe Gomez joined the Dutch colossus on the sidelines last November and Joel Matip made it a hat-trick of unavailable centre-backs the following month. 

Without that trio, Klopp was forced to use Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in defence against Southampton in early January.

The result? Liverpool's first defeat since October, kickstarting a horror run that saw the reigning champions lose eight of 12 in the league, including six at Anfield.

But 22-year-old Konate’s arrival means Liverpool are unlikely to find themselves in a similar situation again.

The defensive juggernaut, snapped up from RB Leipzig for £36million, has immediately looked the part in pre-season alongside Gomez and Matip.

And that fourth centre-back option could prove invaluable for the Reds this term.

 Adequate depth

Andrew Robertson will miss the start of the season after picking up an ankle injury in the friendly against Athletic Club.

It has since been suggested the Scotland captain will miss weeks rather than months.

It is a blow for Klopp but one his title hopefuls can deal with.

Kostas Tsimikas signed last summer in a deal worth £13m, only for injuries to deprive him of opportunities.

Even when he was fit, Liverpool needed some continuity in their defensive line and Klopp was not in a position to start the Greece international.

But the 25-year-old has been one of the standouts in pre-season and is more than capable of filling in for Robertson.

The versatile James Milner can also do a job there, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

 The Dyson

Fabinho spent a little over 1,000 minutes in midfield last season.

Without him there, the Reds struggled to pin the opposition and keep the pressure on.

Nicknamed the Dyson due to his ability to clean up mess, Fabinho has been instrumental in the team's success since his arrival in 2018.

Liverpool missed his presence in midfield in 2020-21. They missed his composure on the ball and his understanding of where to be and when.

It is no coincidence that on the occasions he was deployed as a defensive midfielder in the final 10 games of the season, the Reds picked up maximum points.

The only time Klopp’s side dropped points — in draws with Leeds and Newcastle — the Brazilian was at centre-back.

It highlighted Fabinho’s importance to the team in the centre of the park and why the mood and expectations are dramatically different when he is not in the engine room.

No Wijnaldum replacement

Liverpool have been linked with a host of midfielders this summer but are yet to bring anyone in.

Renato Sanches, Saul Niguez, Yves Bissouma and Eduardo Camavinga are just a few players to have been named as Liverpool targets.

Though there is a clamour from fans for a new arrival, the Reds are not in dire need for midfield reinforcements.

Klopp has Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Takumi Minamo and Xherdan Shaqiri at his disposal.

At most, there are three midfield options. However, if Klopp flirts with a change in the system again, that could drop to just two.

There are enough options for the Reds to piece together a functional three without necessarily bringing in a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum. 

A fit and firing attack

Diogo Jota appeared to be the perfect fourth attacker for Liverpool but injuries ruined his first season at Anfield.

He has returned from Euro 2020 looking sharp and scored twice in pre-season with goals against Bologna and Bilbao.

The Portuguese speedster looks likely to start the campaign ahead of Roberto Firmino, who returned late following his exploits with Brazil at the Copa America.

That said, Firmino has not looked off the pace at all in the games he has featured in and his brace against Osasuna was deserved.

In front of a packed Anfield, the Brazilian appeared confident. It was a far cry from last season.

If he is up for it, he is a game-changer for the Reds — as is Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese finished the season with a brace against Crystal Palace to help secure third in the table. 

A tally of 11 league goals was his second-worst return since moving to Anfield and Mane was off the pace in the latter half of the campaign, going nine league games without a goal through February and March.

But he has looked sharp in pre-season and topped the goalscoring charts with three alongside Takumi Minamino.

With defenders in defence, midfielders in midfield and attackers scoring, there is no reason Liverpool cannot challenge again.