2015-16 Premier League Season Preview: Liverpool

​Welcome to theScore's 2015-16 preview of Liverpool, including transfer dealings, lineup projections, and everything else you need to know about the club's upcoming campaign.

Liverpool

Team Page - Roster - Schedule

It's the dawn of a new day for Liverpool Football Club, and it starts with the end of an era at Anfield. Club captain Steven Gerrard has departed for the sunny shores of Los Angeles. The Premier League legend joins the LA Galaxy, following in the footsteps of David Beckham.

But Gerrard's departure wasn't the only significant blow Liverpool supporters had to endure. Raheem Sterling made the switch from red to the baby blue of Manchester City, a colour his mother said suits him better. But that blow was softened by another big-money move that saw Christian Benteke join the team. For Liverpool, this season will be about finding a new identity and reclaiming a spot in the Champions League. So can manager Brendan Rodgers pull it off with this new crop of Reds?

2014-15 Season

Trophies Won: None

The big story from last season was the sale of the captain and club icon Gerrard. For many years, he was Liverpool. In his final year with his boyhood club, he once again finished as the team's top scorer and secured a sixth-place finish for the Reds.

On the flip side to Gerrard's last season of glory was Mario Balotelli's first season of blunders. What can we say about this controversial Italian striker that hasn't already been said? Balotelli joined Liverpool to replace Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, and while it wasn't a like-for-like replacement, no one could have guessed Balotelli's first season with the Reds would be quite as disastrous as it was. With just one Premier League goal to his name, he was an absolute bust. He scored a few more goals in different competitions, but was soon replaced by Sterling up top. Sterling is no longer with the club, but reinforcements are coming.

Key Arrivals

• Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
• Roberto Firmino (1899 Hoffenheim)
• Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
• James Milner (Manchester City)
• Danny Ings (Burnley)

Benteke joins Liverpool in puzzling fashion. Having not learned its lesson with Andy Carroll and Rickie Lambert, the club once again dropped a significant chunk of change for a player that might not be entirely worth it. In Benteke's case, Liverpool paid out the £32.5-million buyout clause in the Belgian forward's contract with Aston Villa. Benteke brings the added benefit of three seasons of consistent goal scoring under his belt, scoring 49 total goals in 100 appearances with Aston Villa since 2012, but the fee paid to attain his services will certainly bring with it more pressure to perform. It's not yet clear if the 24-year-old can handle those pressures on a bigger stage.

Key Departures

• Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
• Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy)
• Glen Johnson (Stoke City)
• Rickie Lambert (West Brom)

Projected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Simon Mignolet; Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno; Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Roberto Firmino; Adam Lallana, Christian Benteke, Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool's strength is in its ability to combine and attack from midfield, and that's what Rodgers will be stressing. Replacing Gerrard's cracking long shot won't be easy, but the club has added a player who can potentially replicate it in Roberto Firmino. Tactically, Liverpool will use Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana as two pseudo-wingers/attacking midfielders, feeding Benteke up top.

Defensively, Martin Skrtel and Nathaniel Clyne will help shore up a backline that is susceptible to giving up leads. With James Milner and Jordan Henderson in midfield, Liverpool is now rock solid where it counts. Now it's about making everything click in sync, and being a little more ruthless in front of goal. A touch of luck, too, and Liverpool could be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Player To Watch: Roberto Firmino

The Brazilian midfielder Firmino is a bit of a curious case. On his best day, he can go toe-to-toe with Chelsea midfielder Oscar, but on a bad day, he makes Mineiro look like Ze Roberto. If those Brazilian references are a touch too obscure, we'll keep it simple: Firmino can be inconsistent, and on bad days, can be more of a detriment than an asset. Still, he can score some pretty goals, and has caught Dunga's eye for the Brazilian national team. And, at only 23, he has plenty of time to mature into a capable midfielder for Liverpool.

Keep One Eye On: Nathaniel Clyne

Three Questions

1. Can Liverpool successfully transition to life without Gerrard?
2. Is Benteke worth the cash or is he a repeat of Carroll?
3. What in the world will happen to Balotelli?

Trivial Matters

• Manager: Brendan Rodgers
• Nickname: The Reds
• Stadium: Anfield (Capacity: 45,522)