Let’s Focus on What’s Next:
We’re going to ignore last week’s Liverpool game as the focus from this point out has to be on the future. Not just the future of Raheem Sterling (it doesn’t look good) but the future of the club. In regards to Sterling, Rodgers said that they’re not ready to let the striker go, and Sterling (or rather his agent) has flip-flopped about what his client wants so much, we have no idea what to think right now. First he said he’s leaving. Then he backtracked from his original comments and said those comments have been blown out of proportion. Now the agent is saying he’s not going to sign no matter what. City and United are both preparing offers at around £40 million, but hopefully if Sterling does go somewhere, it is not anywhere in the EPL. Fortunately, Jordan Ibe looks ready to step into Sterling’s role and Liverpool actually have a perfect record without him on the field this season.
Sterling is not the only person whose future is in doubt as Brendan Rodgers will also hold an end of the season meeting with FSG. I think that he will stay on after the season as we probably would have heard Jürgen Klopp’s name associated with Liverpool earlier this year if they were ready to pull the plug on him (but who really knows).
Liverpool has already seen the transfer rumor mill churning well before the end of the season, and SFTB has linked the Reds with around 94 possible transfers in the summer window (number has not been verified by the analytics department). Jovetic, Carvajal, Charlie Austin and Benteke are the most recent rumored transfers. James Milner was also associated with the Reds after rejecting a new contract with City, but it looks like he maybe headed to Arsenal (sound familiar).
Stoke This Weekend:
Liverpool plays Stoke this weekend with Europa football on the line. Even though we’re currently in fifth we could still be leapfrogged by Tottenham and Southampton (which would put us out of the Europa Tournament) if we don’t step it up this weekend. Europa football is always considered both a blessing and a curse, but I feel the Europa tourney is better than nothing. Optimists may say that we’ll be ready to challenge for the title again if we get some quality transfers, but a top-4 finish would be a much more realistic goal for the Reds in 2016.
As a reminder, this is Steven Gerrard’s last game as a Red before coming to America. Wow. Never thought I would say that sentence in my life, but the time is upon us. Good luck to Stevie G as he heads stateside, and only the best wishes for the last remaining player from the Liverpool glory days. People from leagues and teams around the world have nothing but praise for the skipper, and it will be a sad day when he retires from the game altogether.
There’s also not a lot to play for around the league this weekend unless Hull can take it to Man United. The top 4 spots are secured, and 2 of the 3 relegation spots are already confirmed. If Hull can put an early one in against United, it will keep the pressure on Newcastle, who are the only other team that could drop (they are up against West Ham). All games are at 10:00 EST on Sunday.
After this weekend there’s still the FA Cup and Champions League final, and then it’s transfer rumors galore until the summer tours start and some news is injected back into our EPL deprived minds. It was an average season for the Reds, and ok season for the initial Reds Roundup and a great season for Suarez. The bastard. C’mon Reds and C’mon Sterling’s agent.