Divock Origi and Rhian Brewster will have an immediate test of their suitability once the season kicks off.
The duo’s role is clear: provide adequate backup to the front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
It’s not an enviable task. The trio are the most valuable forward line in the world and arguably the best.
CIES Football Observatory valued them at a combined £464.6m earlier this year. That’s a staggering figure and an intimidating one for Origi and Brewster.
Can a player Liverpool didn’t want a year ago and youth product with no senior experience support that trio? It’s no good just coming into the side and playing decently. They need to add their own skill set in a way that keeps the side ticking over.
We know Origi can do that – his end to the season more than proved that – but can he do it over an entire season? Can Brewster do it at all?
Well, we’ll find out immediately. Origi and Brewster face their first test right away, with news that Sadio Mane won’t arrive back until August 5th.
The Premier League season kicks off on the 9th but the Community Shield is the day before. In short, there’s no way that Mane will be ready for those games. That’s a £140.6m-rated hole in the team that Origi and Brewster will need to fill.
Salah and Firmino still haven’t joined back up with the squad, either, after their international tournaments. Will they be ready and raring to go in a couple of weeks?
Again, we’ll find out just how ready Origi and Brewster are to step up if the usual stars aren’t quite there yet.
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