Football - Liverpool a Premier League Force Once More

Liverpool’s signing of Celta Viga striker, Iago Aspas, means the Reds are ready to challenge for a Champions League finish once again next season after a period of underachievement.

Over the past few years, boardroom disharmony has left the club leaderless and languishing outside European places, but now, under Brendan Rodgers, there are green shoots of progress coming through.

Last term, as fans of live football commentary will no doubt be aware, Liverpool finished seventh in the league but ended their campaign in top-four form and earned nine points more than the season before. The midfield looks settled while another addition to the back four would give Rodgers a strong spine heading into August.

Yet it is up front where Liverpool are most exciting; the team scored 71 league goals last season compared to 47 the previous year. The Anfield club have further strengthened up front, after agreeing this £7m fee with Celta for Aspas, who underwent a medical on Tuesday before putting pen to paper on a new contract.

He was a rare shining star in Celta’s relegation-threatened squad last season and, after scoring 12 goals in 35 domestic games, rightly earned a move to the Premier League.

His arrival means Liverpool now have a forward arsenal capable of matching the best in England, with Aspas joining Luiz Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Andy Carroll, and Fabio Borini. This quintet possess different attacking qualities, meaning boss, Brendan Rodgers, has a malleable forward line capable of targeting various opposition weaknesses.

The midfield of Joe Allen, Steven Gerrard, and Philippe Coutinho only adds to Liverpool’s attacking strength, for all three players can pick out a man with ease. Fans placing a bet on football this season should seriously consider the Reds a good price  to finish fourth ahead of Arsenal and Spurs this coming season.