Liverpool 2016-17 season review: Results, roster changes, and summer transfer targets

While this season was undoubtedly one of progress for Liverpool, it was also one of frustration at times. They finished fourth in the league despite spending long stretches of the season in second and rarely were a significant factor in the Premier League title race. They disappointed in cup competitions. But they were unquestionably a better team than they were a year ago, and Liverpool fans will be eager to see what comes next for the Reds after a year that showed a lot of promise.

Liverpool put together an exciting attack, with each of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane reaching double-digit league goals, as well as solid scoring contributions from the likes of Divock Origi, Adam Lallana, and Giorginio Wjinaldum. The creativity came from a healthy variety of places as well, with all of those players but Origi managing at least five assists, plus plus captain Jordan Henderson chipping in four.

All that attacking quality helped them score the fourth-most goals in the Premier League, a total good for fourth place in the league. That puts them back in the Champions League picture, though they’ll have to win a playoff to make the group stage. Still, after another year outside the prestige and money of the Champions League, having a shot to get back into the group stage is far better than the alternative.

There are two words that describe the things that Liverpool did not do well last season: consistency, and defense. Liverpool’s form ran incredibly hot and cold all season long, too often dropping points with lackluster performances at inopportune moments that saw them miss opportunities throughout the campaign, ultimately leading to them sliding out of third place at the end of the season thanks to dropping points three times in April and May while Manchester City found their form again.

That fourth place finish will put pressure on Liverpool to get ready quicker this summer as they’ll have to go through that playoff round to qualify for the Champions League proper. And to get through that round, they’ll have to be much better defensively than they were last season. The 42 goals they gave up weren’t bad, but they also weren’t terribly impressive, especially given the number of soft goals that they gave up against teams well below them in the table or in situations when they should have been more focused at preventing goals. That’s a trend that Liverpool can not afford to allow to continue.

Liverpool’s main issues are pretty easy to identify and for the most part can be worked on during the summer. Manager Jurgen Klopp is a smart man who knows how to work with team’s staff to get the most out of a transfer window, and there’s little reason to think that the squad won’t improve over the next few months in the areas it needs to be improved in.

Add that to their attack being young, hungry, and likely to improve, and Liverpool are a team that could get quite scary next season. They’re not a stone cold lock to be a title contender next season, but they certainly should be in the conversation.

Liverpool need two things: defenders, and overall depth. In defense, they need one if not two starting-quality center backs after Klopp’s attempts to rotate and find solutions came to mediocre results this season, and they absolutely have to find a left back who can replace Alberto Moreno and the patchwork efforts of James Milner. And to be honest, Liverpool still need to improve in goal, as neither Simon Mignolet nor Loris Karius are quite at the level the club needs to perform at the level they want.

Otherwise, Liverpool simply need to improve their depth. Another solid striker, another creative midfielder, more central midfield depth — they just need more bodies to help cover the gaps when starters are hurt or just need a day off, because those absences led to a lot of the team’s consistency woes.

To make room for those acquisitions, of course, several players will have to go. Kevin Stewart, Alberto Moreno, Ragnar Klavan, Daniel Sturridge, and Simon Mignolet may all be sold to clear room and raise extra transfer funds. Even Lucas Leiva may ultimately leave the club, despite him settling into a utility role quite well, though the day he leaves Liverpool will be a sad one for many fans.