Now the real challenge awaits Liverpool

Only two more days to wait before another Premier League campaign washes over us and, after his impressive debut last time out, much will be expected of Jamie Carragher as he resumes his place in the Sky studios.

The broadcasting giant will churn out 116 live Premier League games between Saturday and next May. Arsenal and Crystal Palace get their ball rolling on Saturday, but it is Liverpool’s meeting with Southampton the following day at Anfield which intrigues more.

Brendan Rodgers has been a busy boy.

Half-a-dozen players have been drafted in at considerable expense. Almost as many have cleared out their lockers and if the majority went without bequeathing the club a transfer fee then Luis Suarez’s departure more than made up for that.

Overall, Rodgers has spent, net, €14.3m, but the task now is to knit together a new team capable of eclipsing and even bettering the achievements of last year’s class which came so near to the ultimate honour.

The surgery has been more than cosmetic. Dejan Lovren will be expected to dominate his fellow defenders, including fellow newbie and full-back Javier Manquillo, as well as opposing forwards.

Adam Lallana shoulders the burden of supporting Daniel Sturridge up front, with a little help from Rickie Lambert, while Emre Can and Lazar Markovic will be expected to fill crucial, if very different roles, in the midfield environs.

“It is a big challenge,” said Carragher. “It is never easy bringing that amount of players in. It’s difficult to hit the ground running. One or two might make a flying start whereas some might have teething problems.

“The problem for Liverpool last season was that they didn’t have a bigger squad and a better bench and it will be more difficult because of Champions League games now and also the added scrutiny after what they did last season and how much they’ve spent.”

Rotation will be key, but Carragher doesn’t disagree with the assertion that, whatever the formation or personnel Liverpool present to the opposition, their starting 11 will be weaker by dint of Suarez’s absence.

As a Liverpool supporter – which he very much is – Carragher is heartbroken to think that one of the world’s finest footballers won’t be wearing the famous red strip anymore, but his head is telling his heart that business is business.

And this was good business.

“It’s a difficult one because you can never say its right to sell a player of that quality. With the incident at the World Cup and the other things that happened at Liverpool, I think it’s best all round and Liverpool will go in another direction.”

The script has carried shades of Tottenham Hotspur this time last year when, in the wake of selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, the London club gorged itself on a bunch of new signings. Ultimately, that top four place still remained elusive.

Carragher sees the similarities but stresses the differences as well. Liverpool are already operating at a higher level than Spurs were at the time and, in Gerrard, they retain the sort of icon that Spurs were without when their Welsh star moved to Spain.

It has been a forgettable few months for Gerrard. That slip against Chelsea last May proved to be the deal-breaker in Liverpool’s bid to negotiate a first Premier League title and his input to England’s World Cup campaign left him wide open to criticism.

“He’ll be fine,” said Carragher. “You don’t play at the top for that long without having — apart from the obvious ability — great mental strength. You get questioned throughout your career, that’s part of being a top player.

“People are always looking for chinks in his armour. He’s had a bad couple of months, he’s open enough to admit it. Not many players do that. He’s not hiding away from that. He’s showing mental strength.

“As he’s said in the press: ‘we’ll go again’. He’s done that throughout his career. His season shouldn’t be remembered for what happened in that Chelsea game or with England, he was one of the main reasons Liverpool were up there. He can continue that form and take it into next season and that is good for Liverpool.”

nSky Sports will show more of the games that matter from the Barclays Premier League. Sky and UPC homes will be able to take advantage of a full day of unrivalled live sport with the free Sky Sports Open Day this Saturday including Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace at 5.30pm.” Jamie on...

Chelsea

“I like their signings. They’re all experienced players and there’s Premier League experience as well. You’ve [Cesc] Fabregas and I was a big fan of [Filipe Luis] the left-back at Atletico Madrid last season. I thought he was outstanding.

“You could say the same about Diego Costa. After his performances at the World Cup maybe there will be a couple of question marks in this country, but people who watched Spanish football on Sky will know his quality. I’m sure Jose Mourinho feels he has the quality and experience to win the league.”

Whether he sees Seamus Coleman one day playing for a ‘bigger’ club

“I can’t say that. I’ll get killed by all the Evertonians. I think he can go right to the top. He was the best full-back in the league last season. He got goals and assists and Roberto Martinez brought his game onto another level.

“I remember his performance against Manchester United at Goodison Park. Of the 22 players, he was the best player on the pitch by a long way. I don’t think he had much competition for the PFA team of the year, he was the standout right-back.”

Whether Manchester City stood still this summer

“The manager [Manuel Pellegrini] came in new last season and now he has got the experience of the away games and what it’s like. Man City didn’t have a great start last season, losing away games to Aston Villa and Cardiff.

“They were sixth or seventh in the league. They are a top side already and they have European experience now. I don’t know if City needed that much, really. The manager has more experience of the Premier League now too.”

The arrival in Manchester of Louis Van Gaal

“It’s a great appointment for the Premier League. He has new ideas with three at the back. I’m delighted he’s here, he’s got a great CV. You want to see best players and managers in our league.

“Obviously you want to see British and English people given a go, but someone of that calibre is great to have in the league. I expect Manchester United will be much better this season. That’s obvious.

“It’s just a question of how much more, whether it’s the top four or the title. With no European football they’re a threat to everyone. He’s a great manager. He’s going to bring a lot to our game.”

How many sides will contest the title?

“There could be more talk about Spurs and Everton as well. You could have five sides thinking they could win the league. It’s very rare to have so many. You usually have just two and it may pan out that way. But there will be four or five with genuine hopes of winning the title or at least really contesting.”