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The National's sports team is counting down the days until defending champions Leicester City take on newly promoted Hull City in the opening fixture of the 2016/17 English Premier League season by looking at one team a day. Today, Liverpool.
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Getting to the finals of both the English League Cup and the Europa League suggest a successful first eight months in charge for Jurgen Klopp, despite losing both.
The upcoming season is when the German should truly be critiqued though, having had his first proper summer transfer window to bring in the players more to his liking. But the signings so far have been underwhelming to say the least.
Gone are Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Jose Enrique and Jordan Ibe, among others, in are Ragnar Klavan, Marko Grujic, Joel Matip and Loris Karius. The one marquee signing, Sadio Mane, came at a cost of £34 million (Dh164m), the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Andy Carroll. Although the Senegalese is a proven Premier League player with a decent scoring record, Liverpool fans will bemoan the lack of stardust entering Anfield so far.
The one thing Liverpool and Klopp have going in their favour this season is no European football to use as a distraction for inconsistent league form.
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Previously
• Hull City: Promoted club had unstable summer
• Middlesbrough: Hopes lie largely in Spaniards
• Burnley: Third time the charm?
• Sunderland: Moyes the make-or-break factor in survival hopes
• Bournemouth: Well placed to avoid 'second season syndrome'
• Crystal Palace: Time to deliver on all that talent
• West Bromwich Albion: Another season of mid-table mediocrity
• Watford: Early fixtures will set the tone — for better or worse
• Swansea City: Swans need a striker, and stability
• Everton: In good hands with Koeman
• Chelsea: Hazard key to turnaround year
• Stoke City: Defensive stability is essential
Still to come
• Tomorrow: West Ham United
• Sunday, Aug 7: Southampton
• Monday, Aug 8: Manchester United
• Tuesday, Aug 9: Manchester City
• Wednesday, Aug 10: Tottenham
• Thursday, Aug 11: Arsenal
• Friday, Aug 12: Leicester City
• Saturday, Aug 13: Premier League season begins
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