Going into the new season, it felt like Liverpool had a squad of peak-age senior players (plus the unmeltable James Milner, aged 57) and a clutch of emerging top-class youngsters. The addition of The Greek Lad™ (aka Kostas Tsimikas) solved the left-back cover issue whilst adding an option who can cut infield, while Curtis Jones usurped Adam Lallana. With Dejan Lovren also exiting, the club had options to cover at centre-back already in the squad.
This was basically the Champions League and title-winning squad, just now at peak age, instead of below peak age; with added cover to one position. It was experienced, but still full of hard-running, and it had the advantage of 2-3 years of team bonding and wavelength propagation.
Then, last Friday happened.
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