With the transfer window closing, and the squad largely set, it's worth taking a step back and analyzing what looks to be the 25-man roster that Mourinho will be overseeing for the foreseeable future. For the purpose of illustrating the sheer depth of talent in the squad, here is what I think the squad would look like if you were to break it down into two starting line-ups:
First XI
Hart/PG
Doherty Alderweireld Tanganga Davies
Sissoko Winks/Gedson
Dele
Lamela/Lucas Vinicius Bergwijn
No squad in the history of the club has had this kind of depth and talent. The 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 squads were arguably equally talented from player 1 through player 15 or so, but the versatility and depth across all positions in this squad surpasses those teams from the recent past. Just to demonstrate the level of experience of every player listed above: all 25 have played in either the Champions League or Europa League in their careers.
With all that said, a big question remains: how will Mourinho handle all of these players? It seems to make sense to use the First XI mentioned above in league matches (maybe you swap in Lamela for GLC or Ndombele), while making wholesale rotational changes for Europa matches. That Second XI would not only be favored to win all six group matches in Europa, but would probably finish in the top 8 in the league if they played out an entire season. The question is, will Mourinho make huge changes between cups and league matches? Given the injury history of a lot of the First XI players listed above, it would make a lot of sense for almost all of them to not play in any of the group stage Europa matches. However, there may be certain regulars who always want to play, irrespective of the opposition (I'm thinking of Kane, in particular). Of course, Mourinho may also not settle on a particular First XI at all, and may constantly change and mix the team to fit the opposition Spurs play in a particular match. Still, given the success Liverpool have had recently with a settled set of players over the last two seasons, it seems like finding and fielding your best XI, at least in the league, and later stages of cup matches, allows a team to gel and put in more consistent performances over the course of a long season.
One final note: Daniel Levy deserves huge credit for the assembling of the above squad. 88% of the above listed players came through transfers, with half of the outfield players in the First XI coming to the club since last summer through transfers/loans. One more center-back may round out the squad, but if these players perform like they have this week, Levy likely will have the confidence to spend in January to make an additional purchase or two to help this team get over the line and back into the Champions League next season.
First XI
Lloris
Aurier Sanchez Dier Reguilon
Hojbjerg
Ndombele Lo Celso
Bale Kane Son
Second XI (+3 additional players)Aurier Sanchez Dier Reguilon
Hojbjerg
Ndombele Lo Celso
Bale Kane Son
Hart/PG
Doherty Alderweireld Tanganga Davies
Sissoko Winks/Gedson
Dele
Lamela/Lucas Vinicius Bergwijn
No squad in the history of the club has had this kind of depth and talent. The 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 squads were arguably equally talented from player 1 through player 15 or so, but the versatility and depth across all positions in this squad surpasses those teams from the recent past. Just to demonstrate the level of experience of every player listed above: all 25 have played in either the Champions League or Europa League in their careers.
With all that said, a big question remains: how will Mourinho handle all of these players? It seems to make sense to use the First XI mentioned above in league matches (maybe you swap in Lamela for GLC or Ndombele), while making wholesale rotational changes for Europa matches. That Second XI would not only be favored to win all six group matches in Europa, but would probably finish in the top 8 in the league if they played out an entire season. The question is, will Mourinho make huge changes between cups and league matches? Given the injury history of a lot of the First XI players listed above, it would make a lot of sense for almost all of them to not play in any of the group stage Europa matches. However, there may be certain regulars who always want to play, irrespective of the opposition (I'm thinking of Kane, in particular). Of course, Mourinho may also not settle on a particular First XI at all, and may constantly change and mix the team to fit the opposition Spurs play in a particular match. Still, given the success Liverpool have had recently with a settled set of players over the last two seasons, it seems like finding and fielding your best XI, at least in the league, and later stages of cup matches, allows a team to gel and put in more consistent performances over the course of a long season.
One final note: Daniel Levy deserves huge credit for the assembling of the above squad. 88% of the above listed players came through transfers, with half of the outfield players in the First XI coming to the club since last summer through transfers/loans. One more center-back may round out the squad, but if these players perform like they have this week, Levy likely will have the confidence to spend in January to make an additional purchase or two to help this team get over the line and back into the Champions League next season.
