I'll give my Liverpool view on the upcoming season, from a pure football perspective.
It's clear that Liverpool has adapted a more controlled approach to the all-out gegenpressing from the 17/18 season. And while pretty much all stats have improved from the season before, the 1 point gap (compared to city) is flattering, to say the least. Liverpool had luck in some decisive matches, while City got stuck by lightning both by Wolves and Newcastle. The chance (or risk, around here) that Liverpool will have the same fortune and city will have the same misfortune, is hardly something Liverpool can hope for.
There has to be a few additions, for Liverpool to be able to bridge the gap:
1) Alternative to Trent. It's easy to get caught up in the hype, but before December he was abysmal. I'd say he was Liverpool's worst player. And still, when he got injured in January the impact was colossal. Liverpool must have another speedy alternative, that can pin opponents in a defensive shape.
2) Penetration in the middle. This was Klopp's thing when he was
@Dortmund. He switched sides and used the wings (like Liverpool do now), but he always had players that could break lines and penetrate in the middle. Often Liverpool are too easy to read, with the ball going from side to side with no threat from Wijnaldum, Henderson, Fabinho or Milner. Ox will be like a new signing, but will it be enough?
3) Alternative to the front three. Salah and Firmino had some pretty significant dips in form, and with the kind of midfield Liverpool have it becomes really troublesome when one wing loses it's edge. Shaq isn't an alternative, and
Origi is not good enough. City can rotate the front three when they need, both to rest and to adapt to opponents. Liverpool will need at least one quality addition.
