However, since Klopp's first full season, Liverpool have the 3rd highest net spend of any of the top 6 clubs, having been outspent by only United and City. They have also spent over £100 million more than both Chelsea and Spurs.
You are including two players that haven't even trained for us let alone played, yet now, just 24 hours after the VVD announcement, it's OK to use that figure to berate Klopp/LFC with ? Oh dear.
Liverpool are currently sat 4th, closer to Arsenal in 6th than they are to Chelsea in 3rd. They fell at the first hurdle in the League Cup, and have the most difficult 3rd round draw of any of the top 6 in the FA Cup, a competition that Klopp has yet to see past the 4th round in. With pretty much every English side not Manchester City, they are rank outsiders for the Champions League.
All the top clubs use to the LC and even early rounds of the FAC, to blood youngsters or even full shadow squad teams. So it's no surprise if one or two get knocked out, it happens every season now. What has the difficulty of a draw got to do with anything ? Besides which we are at home to a struggling and clearly inferior Everton and it'd be a major upset if we failed to clear that hurdle. CL outsiders ? So what ? Though I think we probably are middling at worst on the bookies lists. A lot of people are giving us that Dark Horse chance.
Liverpool look very much on course to have another trophyless season, and also look well on course to be scrapping for 4th. This would not be making "forward strides," it'd be the very definition of stagnation.
Stagnation !?! Beyond comment .... it's that far from the truth and you'd struggle to find anyone to agree with you because no-one thinks we are stagnating. And I'd say (as more than a few United fans here seem to agree) that we will as likely finish above United as not. With half a season to go the battle is currently for 2nd to 6th not 4th alone.
Also, Liverpool categorically do not have the 3rd best attack in Europe ffs.
You're right. It's currently 4th if scoring goals is the only criteria over 2017.
There's another side to the coin that you're not really discussing with Keita and van Dijk. With Keita, you've got a near £70 million signing confirmed, but he's not joining you until next summer. By which time, Coutinho and Can could be gone, and Liverpool could have slipped back out of the top 4, having gone through yet another trophyless season, and will find themselves once again playing catch up.
Can would be a squad player at best by next season so not sure why you think he'll be any loss at all - I've already stated on these boards I'm quite happy to see him go as I don't rate him. You've also conveniently forgotten to consider what recruitments could/will be made to account for Can and Coutinho's departure (assuming he leaves - 95% certain). The Echo thought we had £200m net to spend last Summer, even allowing for VVDs purchase we'll have plenty in the bank for this Summer which could be an awful lot more should Coutinho leave. How much his departure would affect us is worthy of a thread by itself - however we would still have a superb attack with Salah, Mane, Firmino, Lallana, whoever Sturridge's replacement is, and the ever improving Ox (and no, there isn't a chance in hell any of the other attackers would be let go no matter who came in for them).
With van Dijk, you've just broken the bank mid-season for a player that you spent all summer refusing to break the bank for, a player that's played in just 16 matches in 2017.
Not sure the games he's played is in the slightest bit relevant. In fact it makes him as fresh as a daisy for the remaining half a season and CL campaign. We didn't refuse to break the bank, as you obviously know. We had to stall due to the 'leak' and Southampton's threat, not at all sure how that constitutes 'refusing'.
This is garbage transfer business however you look at it, regardless of how good these players might be for you when they actually arrive.
There is always a degree of 'might' with any signing. Look at Pogba to date, nowhere near his potential or even Juve form. On the other hand they could be even better, apropos Salah. Clearly LFC have a long term strategy in place, far better that than splashing out on players that don't meet the criteria set. In the meantime I'd hardly say we are doing badly.
Ever since Klopp arrived it's been a case of tempering expectations until next season. In 2015/16 it was "wait until next season when he has a summer transfer window". In 2016/17 it was "wait until he's had a full season so things can click." Now it's "wait until our signings that we didn't bring in straight away are actually available." If Coutinho goes it'll be "wait until his replacement is properly settled/the team adapts."
Clearly under Klopp there was always a long-term plan in place - no matter how you like to try and spin it. If you are trying to implement a long term strategy then obviously short term will suffer to a degree as can be seen with our impotent attack. The defence is slowly coming together, as is the midfield with the Keita signing. Work remains to be done though to replace Hendo as a first team player, by next season.
When he arrived he said he'd deliver Liverpool the title within 3 seasons, and you all lapped it up.
Actually I don't think he said he'd deliver the title within 3 years at all though I know it's a popular myth on RC.
Forget the fact that there are now multiple generations of Liverpool fans that have never seen them win the league, if you disregard the FA Cup and League Cup in the way you suggest, you're going to end up with a generation of Liverpool fans that have never seen them win anything.
I said the FAC and LC aren't of any value in promoting a club's image any more, not that we wouldn't win them and give the fans a great day out. Do you actually believe anything bar the CL and PL have any true value to the top PL teams now ? FAC wins have done nothing for Arsenal, for example. As I said they are nice days out and the fans love it, but they have nothing but cosmetic value to the top clubs.
It comes as no surprise Alex that you have such a jaundiced and twisted view of past events and are trying to pour water on current optimism. It's the usual United/anti-LFC bias we can expect from you. I've no doubt that very few, even here on RC, would agree with your outlook and assessment. In the meantime the fear is palpable.
