With several signings under their belt, and many more to go, It appears Liverpool is retooling for another run at not only the Champions League for 2011, but also for a title run in the English Premier League. Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic have spearheaded the Liverpool summer transfer class with Cole coming from rival Chelsea and Jovanovic, a Serbian international, joining from Standard Liege. With these two signings and the signing of under-19 English international Danny Wilson, Liverpool are poised to rejoin the ranks of the top teams in Europe.
Liverpool fans seem to be adoring former Fulham head man Roy Hodgson. Not only has Hodgson performed very well in the transfer market since joining Liverpool after Rafael Benitez's dismissal, he has shown the Reds skipper Steven Gerrard he is here to win trophies. "I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and, having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future. I can't wait for the new season to start" Gerrard said. He also played a significant role in luring Cole to Merseyside over Arsenal and Tottenham. "I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see. It is a great signing for us. I know Joe well through the England set-up and have seen firsthand just how good a player he is."
As active as Liverpool have been bringing quality players in, they have been forced to let go of some of their prized possessions due to stiff financial difficulties. Israeli international Yossi Benayoun, Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio, and Swiss defender Philip Degen are already out the door, while 21 year-old Emiliano Insua has been linked with a move to Italian side Fiorentina.
Liverpool must look to solidify the back line with a quality left back to join Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, and Daniel Agger. Most believe Liverpool will contend for trophies in the upcoming campaign, but none more creditable than Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs. "Two years ago they were close to winning the Premiership so you can never write them off," Giggs told ESPN. "They have got a new manager - it just depends how it goes really. It is dangerous to write off a team with Liverpool's history. They have won the same amount of leagues as us and you can't just dismiss that really. They are a huge football club and a massive team."
Manchester United will be but just one of the teams trying to keep Liverpool from experiencing the success many Merseysiders are hopeful for, and in some cases, desperate for.
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