Liverpool FC: Three hopes, one fear

Hope #3: That Mamadou Sakho can be their number one center-back.

Liverpool in the offseason spent a large amount of their resources in bringing in the likes of Sade and Wijnaldum. But while their attacking additions got most of the attention, Klopp was quietly changing the defense as well. The Reds dropped Martin Skrtle, Luis Enrique, and Kolo Toure in a series of moves aimed at giving younger players in defense the opportunity to show what they can do.

Of the players that Klopp is looking to step up on defense this season no player has more expectations than Mamadou Sakho. Sakho, 26, made 21 appearances for Liverpool last season the most matches that he has appeared in for the side in his three years at Anfield. Alongside Skrtel the French international steadily improved throughout the season building a solid partnership and helping bail out Liverpool on a number of occasions.

Without Skrtel Sakho becomes their de-factor number one center-back. For someone who has not played over 33 matches in a season that might be a bit of a tall ask. His poor performance during preseason certainly did not help. But Sakho has shown in limited time with Liverpool and during his tenure at Paris St. Germain that he can make the difficult challenges late and hold down results.

What will be interesting to see is who Klopp puts alongside him. The club signed Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg in the offseason and still has Dejan Lovren on their roster. The Estonian international looked very nervous on Saturday against Arsenal but pulled himself together in the second half. Klopp also has Dejan Lovren to turn to, which as evidenced by Saturday’s scoreline, might not be the best thing.

No matter who Klopp turns to it is Sakho that has the highest upside. Liverpool supporters will hope that he can live up to it.

Next: The big fear: That their defense will not hold.