Liverpool F.C - You'll Never Walk Alone!

Last season, Liverpool fans experienced probably the best Premier League campaign since the 2008/09 season, when Liverpool fell just short of winning the title by four points to big rivals Manchester United. The 2013/14 season saw Brendan Rodgers bring exciting, attacking and possessive football into the Liverpool side that finished just a few points behind first placed City.

Daniel Sturridge, was one of the big name starters that played pretty much week in week out for the Reds...Of course that was when he wasn't injured! Sturridge was an important part of Liverpool's success but it could be argued by many that no one showed more of a contribution than that of Luis Suarez, who notched an incredible 31 goals in the Premier League. Even with a six match ban at the start of the campaign.

Sadly though, Luis Suarez' antics (Biting Chielini) at the 2014 World Cup cost him another ban. This time a huge one. It resulted in him being made unable to attend any football match, or play in any football game. At first he wasn't allowed to train but after he made his move from Liverpool to Barcelona, that rule was abolished.

Many might say that had he of kept himself to himself he might still be a Liverpool player. He might still be training at Melwood and preparing to tear it up once more in the Barclays Premier League.

Had he of stayed, a title challenge would definitely be on the cards for Liverpool. Now, even though he has moved on to greener pastures it does still look like Liverpool could be contenders.

With a total of nine new players being brought in, including the likes of Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Adam Lallana...Liverpool look as though they could still be in with a shot at the league title.

The biggest signing, or rather their most surprising signing turned out to be Mario Balotelli who joined the club for £16M, moving on from his boyhood club A.C. Milan. Of course their is no doubting Balotelli's ability but whether he has the mental capabilities to put the ability he possesses to good use, we'll have to wait and see.

It's a big gamble from Brendan Rodgers. Has Mario changed for the better, or is he still the same old childish figure he was at Manchester City? Well, many think that if he can learn to grow up then he will set the Premier League on fire along with his new partner in crime, Daniel Sturridge.

However, if he persists on acting up again in the way that got him axed from Inter Milan and City, we can't see him being a Red for too long.

The big question though, is have Liverpool improved or have they taken a step back? Well, last season we saw Tottenham sell Gareth Bale for a little more than Luis Suarez and what they did was sign a big number of players. Yet no matter how good those players were, they couldn't perform as a team. Will this be the case for the Reds or can they live up to expectations and prove that they are on their way back from the dead? Raheem Sterling thinks they can do just that.

We've got an unbelievably talented group of players here. A group of players that want to win, they're hungry for success. They as much as anyone want to succeed and they want to succeed here at Liverpool like myself. We've all been working so hard up to the beginning of pre-season. We just need to maintain the hard work off the field and then bring that hard work onto the field when it really matters.

Our supporters gave us everything last year, right up to the end they were with us you know? They were there cheering us on in the City game. In the end I think they were the reason we won that game, they gave us a massive boost. Even after we lost at Chelsea, they were there at the end singing us out. We want to repay them for that. What their support means to us, is undescribable. We will give everything this coming season, we promise you all.

Love your stories Aaron, good luck, and great first update

Of course I will be following this and of course it will be great, as long as you stick with it

Tallery: Thanks mate!

James: Cheers James, I'm pretty sure I will do so don't worry about that

So far Liverpool have made a total of nine transfers coming into the club in just this one single summer transfer window. Some may argue that with all these new signings, there can't possibly be any more coming in, however a lot of fans believe that Rodgers isn't done yet this summer. To find out from the man himself, we went to Melwood today to discuss this with him and whilst he didn't reveal much, he did say that the priority from here on was to mold the team into what it was or what it could have been last season.

"I'm not going to straight up tell you whether we're done yet or not because quite frankly, I am not so sure myself. There are players I would like to bring into the club but then again I have to think about the effects that any more new signings may have on our current group. We already have an extraordinary team full of potential and talent, and yes improvements can still be made and a lot of them.

But you saw what happened to Spurs last year. They brought in about the same amount of players as us yet they were absolutely terrible. I'm not saying we will turn out the same. No. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen.

The priority right now is to mold the team into what I want it to become, or at least start molding the team. I cannot do this if I have four or five new players coming in every other week. We have two many new first team players to risk anymore, so if there are any new signings then don't expect them to be coming into the first team like Can, Moreno and Lallana.

If I sign anyone, it'll be for the u21's or I'll loan them back out to their current club like I did with Origi."

As Rodgers said, a certain Spurs team springs to mind whenever we see another club signing the number of players Liverpool have. The Reds start their pre-season in a weeks time against Cruz Asul. They will be playing four games which also include the likes of Lokomotive Moskow and Hartlepool.

Three good teams to test the team out on, but is four games really enough to bring the current group together? Well, the only way of finding out is by watching their first few games of the Premier League season against Southampton, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in that order.

Yes, it's not been long at all since Brendan Rodgers told us he wouldn't be signing anyone for the first team. He has kept to his word and signed two players that will likely be integrated into the u18 and u21 teams. The first signing the Reds made was Dele Alli, a long term supporter of the Reds and his idol Steven Gerrard.

Dele Alli has been hyped up to be one of most talented young English players around at the moment. He's had the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and United keeping tabs on him. Despite interest from these undoubtedly huge clubs he has decided to sign with one of the bigger clubs, the club he supports. Liverpool.

That's right Liverpool fans, for once the rumors are true and you have signed one of the current biggest English talents in the country. Well, we assume that's what he is considering the hype around the central midfielder.

Alli signs from MK Dons for a bargain of just £3M, and he'll be earning £13.5K for the remainder of the 2014/15 season at MK Dons. Yes, he's been loaned back to the Dons for the coming season which is probably the reason they got him for such a cheap price. So we won't be seeing him in the Premier League for at least one more year.

We made sure we got a word with Alli just after he'd passed his medical. Here is what the 18 year old had to say.

"I can't believe this is happening. Honestly, I've supported Liverpool all my life and not once did I ever think I'd be able to play for them. I dream't it, but never thought I might actually be able to play with Steven Gerrard, and Daniel Sturridge etc...

I've known for a while that big clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal were interested but as soon as I heard that Liverpool wanted me...I paid absolutely zero attention to any other clubs. I wanted to move here, I have moved here and I cannot wait to come back next season and play.

I'll be giving it my all when I come back. I want to help bring glory to this club, I want to prove to everyone that I can be a great player. Not just for club but country too. Winning competitions with Liverpool would mean everything to me and now I've been given that chance, I will take it. I just want to walk out into Anfield and just hear the fans chanting "You'll Never Walk Alone". A dream come true for me."

The second player to come in is Dundee United's John Souttar. Souttar is 17 years of age and plays in the centre of defense. We'd go as far to say he's one of Scotland's biggest hot prospects, so Liverpool have done very well to pick him up, considering the interest surrounding him.

Souttar has represented his nation at u17s level, making no fewer than seven apps for them. He made his debut against Belgium in a 0-0 draw. He also has eight games for the Scotland u19s.

Currently injured, Souttar's first thought will be to get fit and start working hard in training. We expect Brendan Rodgers to bleed in a lot of young domestic players into the team this year so we think Souttar has a very good chance of getting a few first season appearances for the Reds.

He'll join the club for a fee of £1.9M. An amount that many people believe to be too much but Brendan Rodgers thinks otherwise.

"He's a fine player. He's composed, determined, he's hungry to win. John is a brilliant player believe me. When he turns out to be one of the best central defenders the UK has ever seen, then you'll come back and tell me the fee we paid was a bargain.

If you think it's too much, you clearly need to get outside of the Premier League more often because John is a solid defender and has all the right attributes to become one of the greatest this club and the Premier League has ever seen!"

Awesome signings man and i will be following

Two players with a lot of potential, are you going to be strengthening your first team though?

Jason: Cheers Jason! I am sure they can do really well for us!

Niko: Very unlikely, we don't have much money to spend so I think we'll only see youngsters coming in. I have heard that a certain Yevhen Konoplyanka is available on a free and I'm a big fan, so who knows

Good luck Aaron, your last Liverpool story was great, so I hope this will be the same!

Hey guys, sorry about this but I am going to have to put the story on hold until the full version of Football Manager is out. I've been playing this save, and I am sick of the amount of bugs that ruin the game. I understand it is in Beta, which is why I am willing to give the full game a chance as I know SI will fix them, however I really cannot play it to any enjoyment at the moment so I shall continue when I have the full game.

Thank you

Great signings there, especially Alli! I bought him in a Liverpool save last year - absolute beast

He was superb against Man United in the Capital One Cup this year, great signing hopefully!

Zed: Hopefully he'll turn out just as good! Hopefully Souttar will do the same to, I am sure they will! Two great players

Jack: He was, hopefully he'll be a beast!

It was now time for Liverpool to put all the disappointment and heart ache of last season behind them, as the squad traveled far and wide to take on the likes of Cruz Azul, Lokomotiv Moscow, KV Mechelen and Hartlepool. Not the biggest of teams but they had the quality to help bring this Liverpool squad together ready for the new season.

The lads were off to a flying start against Azul when Sturridge set eyes on his target and prodded Suso's low cross into the back of the net. Leaving the keeper stranded and helpless.
Memories of last years defensive calamities were back though, and Azul took advantage by equalizing right away giving Liverpool no chance take a breath.

Phillipe Coutinho promises big things for Liverpool and what he did next proved why. The Brazilian magician passed two of the Cruz defenders before playing a lovely one-two with Sturridge who put his teammate through on goal. Coutinho toe poked the ball past the keeper beautifully and sealed a 2-1 win for the Reds.

KV Mechelen were a real test for Liverpool. In reality the boys should have walked over the Belgians but that wasn't the case. Both teams played their part in an eight goal thriller, but despite creating such an exciting game, Rodgers would not be happy with the defensive performances from the team.

Oscar Heeren got the goal scoring underway in the 20th minute. A lucky goal really...His deflected shot came off the head off Dejan Lovren. The initial strike was heading off target but after bouncing off Lovren it changed course for the top right corner of Mignolet's goal.

Mechelen actually doubled their lead as well. Only a few minutes after their first goal, Erwan De Witte with a moment of brilliance from a direct free kick which dipped over the wall and into the bottom corner.

Ryan Kent was given his chance to play a part in this game as he was picked to start. And he provided his very best performance in his senior debut. Five minutes after Mechelen doubled their lead he fired a bullet into the roof of the oppositions net. He did the same again in the 45th minute by volleying this one past the keeper and into the bottom corner. The second goal came from a lovely chipped through ball by another debutant in Jordan Rossiter.

Liverpool didn't hold on for very long in the second half and soon found themselves chasing the game again after another De Witte goal. They took their time to do so but they leveled up all over again in the 60th minute. Borini with the goal.

Both teams looked as though they were leaving it late, and they did. Mechelen scored a fourth goal in the 80th minute but Borini was on hand to equalize for the third time in the game.

The boys were brought to their knees in the next game against Lokomotiv Moscow who savaged them to bits in a 3-1 victory over the 18 time English Champions. Dame N'Doye was on a mission, and that mission he completed by bagging two goals and an assist. His first goal came exactly 10 minutes into the game. A few moments before wonderkid Raheem Sterling equalized.

N'Doye scored right on the half time whistle. Yes, with literally the last kick of the first 45 minutes. Azamat Stepanchuk dealt the final blow 20 minutes before the final whistle leaving Liverpool with a lesson to be learn't.

A win i the next game against Hartlepool would be exactly what the lads would need to boost the morale before their first premier League game against Southampton. It'd be something out of a fairy tale for Jeff Stelling's beloved Hartlepool if they were to beat the Reds. but thankfully all scouser's tears were spared as they ran out 2-0 winners.

Coutinho and Stevie G helping the lads onto a much needed victory.