When every player expected to be available for Liverpool this season is fit and free of suspension, Jürgen Klopp has three midfields to choose from.

There is the one that started on Sunday that included Naby Keita, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum. There is another that featured on the bench: Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Fabinho. Klopp believes Xherdan Shaqiri can play as a No 8, so there is him, Curtis Jones and Marko Grujic to consider, though Grujic might leave on loan to a foreign club in the next few weeks. Inside the club, it is also believed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will evolve from full-back and into midfield. By the time he plays there, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to have returned from injury.

It might seem like Klopp’s options have never been richer but it is a credit to his management and the progression made under him that he has probably only made it seem that way. This time last year, he was recruiting Oxlade-Chamberlain to go with Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho – both of whom have since left for Juventus and Barcelona.

Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Simon Mignolet, Liverpool Strong in the box and was alert to the danger of Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole. Dealt with set pieces well. 7 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Emre Can, Liverpool Looked rattled after taking a hefty elbow from Andy Carroll in the early stages but grew into the game despite being picked on by the big centre-forward on several occasions. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Martin Skrtel, Liverpool Typically strong performance from the centre back, cancelled out Andy Carroll well. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool Was strong when called upon, although he wasn’t really tested defensively down the left. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Lazar Markovic, Liverpool Cut into the centre a number of times and looked dangerous when he did, but missed a gift of chance after Stuart Downing failed to clear his lines. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Jordan Henderson, Liverpool A decent enough performance, blasted some efforts goalwards from range but never really threatened West Ham. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Lucas, Liverpool Contributed to Liverpool’s build up play but didn’t produce any clear-cut chances. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Alberto Moreno, Liverpool Struggled to provide any spark in the Liverpool attack. Produced some nice passes but nothing that troubled West Ham’s defence. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Coutinho, Liverpool His passing and vision was sublime as he provided assists for both Liverpool goals. A very good game. 8 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Adam Lallana, Liverpool A so-so performance, Lallana was outshone by his teammates for club and country. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Raheem Sterling, Liverpool The fulcrum of the Liverpool attack, he showed speed and skill all afternoon. Took his chance well to put Liverpool ahead. 9 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings BEST OFF THE BENCH: Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool Looked sharp from the word go and hit in a brilliant finish to stretch Liverpool’s lead. 8 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Adrián, West Ham Sterling took his chance well and left the Spaniard with little chance to save but he’ll be disappointed that he was beaten at his near post for Liverpool’s second. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Joey O'Brien, West Ham Positive play down the right but lacking in quality with his crossing. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings James Collins, West Ham.jpg Strong performance despite nursing a back strain. Disrupted a number of Liverpool attacks but was caught out of position for Sterling’s goal. 7 Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Winston Reid, West Ham Did a good job mopping up chances in the first half but was caught out by the speed of the Liverpool break. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Aaron Cresswell, West Ham Ponderous with his passing and failed to produce anything for the West Ham attack. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Alex Song.jpg Looked a yard off the pace, his quality didn’t match his enthusiasm. Was clumsy in his defending and gave away a number of free kicks in dangerous areas. 4 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Morgan Amalfitano, West Ham Strong winning the ball back in midfield at the start but faded away before being replaced early in the second half. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Stewart Downing, West Ham Messy in defence and gifted Markovic a chance that should have provided a goal. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Kevin Nolan, West Ham Replaced Downing at the tip of the midfield diamond to much less effect than his countryman. He produced very few chances. 5 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Enner Valencia, West Ham West Ham’s brightest player by a mile. He had a good game creating chances and had a few decent efforts from range. 6 Getty Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings Andy Carroll, West Ham Persistent as he pressed from the front and caused some problems for the Liverpool back three. His endeavour led to nothing though and he was subbed after picking up a knock. 6 Getty

Effectively, then, a combination of Keita and Shaqiri have been signed to make up for the loss of Coutinho, Fabinho has replaced Can, and Lallana – who was injured for most of the last campaign – makes up for the loss of Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It is fair to conclude that Liverpool’s chances of beating Real Madrid in May’s Champions League final would have increased with Coutinho’s presence, so maybe Liverpool did end up missing him when it really mattered but by then – such had been the team’s unlikely achievements – his absence did not feature much in cold analysis.

Klopp and Liverpool have, however, since been criticised for not pursuing other targets after a deal for Nabil Fekir collapsed. Yet Klopp had recognised last summer that Coutinho would more than likely leave and this explains why he was willing to pay a premium to get Keita so far in advance of his arrival.

It is possible that Klopp could have signed Fekir and Shaqiri in the same week back at the start of June but when it became clear that Fekir was not happening, he remained calm having done his research on Shaqiri.

Andreas Kornmayer, Liverpool’s head of fitness, had previously worked at Bayern Munich for fifteen years and for two and a half of those years, Shaqiri was there too. While Liverpool’s scouting department assessed that Shaqiri deserved better recognition for the decisiveness of his passing before concluding that his explosive shooting ability will see him score the sort of goals Liverpool will need from distance when opposition defences sit deep, Kornmayer offered reassurances about the player’s character. In signing Shaqiri, Klopp realised he was getting someone whose personality and ability would ensure his heralded front three don’t ease up while also giving added flexibility to his midfield.

Naby Keita impressed on his debut but has Liverpool's defence improved? (AFP/Getty) (Getty)

In the midst of this, it was suggested by Turkish media outlets that Wijnaldum might be sold to Fenerbahce, a club that had just appointed Phillip Cocu as manager – someone who coached Wijnaldum at PSV Eindhoven where they won the Eredivisie together.

Wijnaldum, though, is valued by Klopp more than many might think. While Keita and Milner were widely credited for outstanding performances in the crushing victory over West Ham, the first player Klopp embraced at the final whistle was Wijnaldum. The Dutchman is a respected figure at Anfield – not only for his versatility and consistency but his intelligence. As the players later filtered through the main stand’s mixed zone, waiting in the corner was Kenny Dalglish with two of his grandchildren. Dalglish would engage with Wijnaldum for ten minutes, sharing stories and jokes, before the pair hugged and said their goodbyes.

“I don’t know who put it in the media but it wasn’t me,” Wijnaldum responded when it was suggested to him that it would be a strange time to leave Liverpool considering the possibilities. “I laugh about it. I also read that I asked the club if I could leave. I never had a conversation with the club.

“People from the outside just see Liverpool is buying players, so players who are already here are going to leave. Liverpool will always buy good players, even if they already have good players. That's normal. I think it has to be normal for a club like Liverpool because that means you're a big club.”

Jürgen Klopp has given the impression that Liverpool are stronger this season (AFP/Getty)

Wijnaldum was reminded about the number of options Klopp currently has before the pressures and the strain of the campaign kick in, impacting upon numbers. One of the key differences between this season and last is that Klopp is unlikely to lose any players in January – particularly one as influential as Coutinho.

“I always want to play,” Wijnaldum said. “I think that kind of competition you have to get it in a team like Liverpool. I think Manchester City and Chelsea, with the new signings that they've made, have it also. I think each position there is competition and it's good at Liverpool. Back in the day it was not different.”

Wijnaldum would speak about the talents of Keita before considering what Liverpool might achieve.

Klopp made a point of congratulating Georginio Wijnaldum (Getty)

“He [Keita] has a lot of qualities. He can provide assists, he can score goals. He showed it in Germany. He can keep the ball and give us - I don't want to say time to rest - time to keep the ball as a team. I think he can regain the ball, his counter-pressing is good. I think he's a good signing for us.