Preview for the Opener

The start of the Premier League is just around the corner. Liverpool begins their campaign with a meeting at Anfield with Southampton.

With the departure of Luis Suarez, the Reds are now a different team. Suarez is now behind as are the joys and sorrows of last season. It is now time for Liverpool to look ahead.

So far, their transfer business suggests that they are as youth seems to be the name of the game for Liverpool.

 Lazar Markovic is certainly an exiting prospect, and a player that can bring pace and flare to this team. At only the age of twenty, he could have quite a future ahead of him.

Emre Can, also twenty, is a solid tackler, can work well on the ball, and is a solid option for Brendan Rodgers in midfield.

Brendan Rodgers has provided himself with another much needed fullback in the form of (yet another twenty year old) Javier Manquillo. Glen Johnson's poor performances last season called for someone to provide him with a tough competition to hold down a starting spot. Manquillo already looked impressive in the friendly against Dortmund.

Divock Origi, although loaned back to Lille, is a fantastic signing for the future. Scoring 5 goals in twelve league appearances is quite impressive at the age of nineteen. Origi managed to keep people's eyes on him during the World Cup for Belgium, and even denied Romulu Lukaku a place in Belgium's starting lineup.

Moreno, just twenty one years of age, is also on his way to Anfield, and will provide Jon Flanagan and Jose Enrique with competition for a starting spot at left back. He played an important role in Sevilla's impressive campaign last season and barely missed out on Spain's final squad for the World Cup.

 All of these players have been impressive in these stages of their careers. Liverpool have made signings with huge potential. However, they are inexperienced. The inexperience of Liverpool's younger signings will put the pressure on the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Rickie Lambert to deliver.

The departure of Suarez puts an even bigger burden on an attacking player such as Lallana, who like many of former Southampton teammates, displayed his talent during the last campaign. Lallana could easily slot right into the Reds' starting lineup. He is creative, able to score goals and can help to give Liverpool the spark that Luis Suarez provided last campaign. He has yet to play his first game in a Liverpool shirt due to his injury, but will be needed by the time he recovers. He may struggle to adapt at first, but should catch on.

Lovren too will have an important role to play during this upcoming season. Arguably, the Reds poor defense, which at times looked lost, clueless, and quite frankly horrendous, cost Liverpool the title. It will be the role of Lovren to set an example for his teammates and strengthen Liverpool's back line.

Defenders however, are not the only players who Liverpool need so step up. Any incoming forward at Liverpool has pressure to perform.  Rickie Lambert will not fill the void left by Luis Suarez, but Liverpool will still look to him for goals, as well as a possible backup to Sturridge, who, speaking of pressure, will be relied on immensely.

As important as he was last season, it is now Daniel Sturridge's time to lead Liverpool's front line. He and Suarez formed a deadly partnership, contributing to over 50 goals together last season. The two were the main source of Liverpool's firepower, and few teams were able to keep them both quiet.

With Suarez gone, the burden for goals lies heavily on him. He will be the player Liverpool turn to to score goals, and be the nightmare for defenders that Luis Suarez was last season.

Another source of inspiration Liverpool will look to is Phillipe Coutinho. He is both skillful and clever on the ball. His creativity will be key to unlocking opponents defenses during this upcoming season. He will be a crucial player for the Reds this season.

Raheem Sterling in particular will be ever so important for Liverpool. The young winger possesses plenty of pace and skill, attributes both needed and welcomed after Suarez's departure. Liverpool will look to him for goals as well as assists.

As reliant as Liverpool will be on their new additions, the Reds must give them time to adapt to a new league and a new club. Rushing their new signings into the starting lineups could have a disastrous effect (Tottenham can attest to that). Liverpool must give their players time to be able to gel with one another before they can be so heavily relied on.

 Everyone will have to step up in one way or another. Liverpool were not a one-man team last campaign, but that takes nothing away from the fact that many players will have to chip in on the score sheet, even if another forward is added to the squad. Luis Suarez is a player able to pull a rabbit out of a hat. This time around, the team as a whole must be able to fill the gaps of Suarez's departure.

Liverpool's performances in preseason suggest that such a task is not far beyond them. A lackluster win over Olympiakos was followed by a solid display against Manchester City at Yankee Stadium. The Reds fought back twice from a goal down, and would have won it at the death had Raheem Sterling's goal not been incorrectly ruled out for offside (Liverpool did however, win in penalties). They were untroubled against Milan soon after.

They then met a much improved Manchester United, a match in which each half told two separate stories. Liverpool were absolutely dominant in the first half. A Liverpool side deplete of Sturridge, and new boys Lallana and Markovic, could well have been two up by half time or by the early stages of the second half.

United scarcely deserved to be in front after scoring twice in the space of a minute. However, they then made life difficult for the Reds, who created little chances after falling behind.

About a week later, Liverpool returned to Anfield, where Borussia Dortmund were welcomed. It was not a very pleasant welcome, however, for the Germans, whom Liverpool dominated from the first minute to the last. An outstanding display saw them four up before seventy minutes. The fourth goal in particular stood out, with some fine passing concluding with Henderson rolling the ball into an empty net. The Reds indeed made quite a statement.

Liverpool displayed their potential during a fine preseason. The time has come to turn their attention to their upcoming season. As for Liverpool, it will be very difficult to repeat the success of last season, for numerous reasons.

Apart from that of Suarez's exit, many of Liverpool's rivals have strengthened. Chelsea, in particular, have had an excellent transfer window.  Scoring goals should no longer be a problem for them. The addition of Diego Costa ends their long pursuit of a much desired top class forward. Fabregas is a huge boost to an already fine selection of midfielders, not to mention that he too is more then capable of finding the back in the net.

Seeing Alexis Sanschez in an Arsenal shirt probably makes some amongst the Liverpool supporters irate. His signature for Arsenal not only provides a rival with a player capable of both scoring and providing, but also leaves the Suarez-void still open. He was thought to have been heading to Anfield.

While the blue half of Manchester is yet to make, or need for that matter, a major signing, the Red half of Manchester will certainly be an improved team. Herrera gives United a much needed boost in their midfield. Luke Shaw is an addition who will likely hold his position for this season, and could continue to do so for a while. With a manager of Van Gaal's quality at the helm, United will be a different team. On top of the quality they have added, they will not have to bear the burden of  midweek European travels. Their  squad should be rested and ready come their weekend matches They will be much more dangerous. 

Lukaku in an Everton jersey, while it may not give Everton quality they lacked last season, is not a favorable sight for Liverpool. Everton have yet to significantly strengthen their squad, but have managed to retain the quality which served them so well last season.

On top of their rivals strengthening, Liverpool faces the rigorous task of midweek European travel, the lack of which was of a notable advantage to the Reds last season. Of course, it is a joy to be playing European football, but at the same time, a burden which could disrupt league consistency. The number of signings Liverpool made should allow for them rotate their lineup in order to give certain players rest, but the rest they enjoyed between weekend league matches will be missed.

All in all, The road this season probably will not be as smooth as it was at times last season. There are many stumbling blocks in the way of Liverpool repeating the success they enjoyed last season.

 That being said however, it would not be wise to underestimate Liverpool.

Luis Suarez may be gone, but Liverpool have demonstrated their ability to win games without him. In fact, their last competitive matches without him came in April- September 2013. Liverpool are an improved team from the the one they were a year ago. Winning without Suarez may not be a walk in the park, but it is certainly within their capability.

Besides, although Chelsea and Arsenal have added attacking firepower to their squad, who is to say that Liverpool don't have players who too can score goals? Manchester United are in the hands of a fantastic manager. So are Liverpool. Actually, Brendan Rodger's vision of his team is at this point, really taking shape. It is clear that Van Gaal's squad is not yet where he wants it.

Suarez's exit from Anfield should not and does not undermine the fact that Liverpool have added quality to their midfield and defense. Lallana and Can are both excellent options for Rodgers, with the former able to play both in the middle and on the left hand side. The signing of Lovren is one which strengthens Liverpool's shaky defense from last season. Moreno and Manquillo's signatures end Rodger's pursuit for competent fullbacks.

A trip to the Ethiad follows Liverpool's opener at Anfield. A trip to Spurs follows soon after. It may be difficult for Liverpool to mirror their start to last season and it may take them a while to gain consistency. Should Liverpool get off to a slow start, it will be vital for them to keep focus, keep their head held high, and continue forward.

Mentality was a huge factor to Liverpool's title campaign. They played as a unit, and played for each other. Their confidence made them a joy to watch.

Without Suarez, Liverpool must continue to display this mentality. It was that mentality that saw them through the last campaign and it is that mentality which they must have during this campaign.

We go again.