It may be the biggest question mark in the Premier League as the season kicks off. Can Liverpool retain its top 4 spot after losing its–and the league’s–best player? Yes, Luis Suarez is off to siesta and seafood in colorful Barcelona–and Liverpool is left to see what they’re made of without their star. Sure this Liverpool squad is deeper going into the season, with 8 (or is it 9?) new signings, but will they need time to come together as a team? Is there enough time might be a better question.
And speaking of those signings, another big question is will Mario Balotelli disrupt the team chemistry? Or lead it? Is he worth the risk? Certainly a conundrum. Balotelli’s talent is off the charts–and he’s a bargain at $26.5 million (16 mill pounds), but then why is a player of his talent selling for $26.5 in his prime–at age 24? Is there something Liverpool doesn’t know or willfully didn’t want to know? Balotelli’s transfer fees have actually steadily declined since Man City paid Inter Milan $40 mill in 2010. Even manager Brendan Rodgers admits: “Of course it is a risk, we are not going to say it isn’t, but he is a big talent.” Big as Suarez?
