Team Liquid’s 2021 roster rebuild aims for LCS dominance and Worlds championship glory
The Strongest Team Liquid Roster in LCS History
Team Liquid’s mid laner Jensen sees championship potential not just in the LCS but on the global stage at Worlds 2021 with their revamped lineup.
After a disappointing Worlds 2020 exit, Team Liquid rebuilt around star mid laner Nicolaj ‘Jensen’ Jensen, creating what analysts consider their most complete roster to date – one poised to challenge internationally starting with the LCS Lock In tournament.
The 2020 season proved challenging for Liquid, with a ninth-place Spring Split finish requiring a Summer surge just to qualify for Worlds. Their Shanghai campaign showed flashes of promise but ultimately ended prematurely in the group stage.
This season represents a fresh start with significantly upgraded personnel. The organization made two key changes: replacing jungler Mads ‘Broxah’ Brock-Pedersen with Lucas ‘Santorin’ Larsen and acquiring top laner Barney ‘Alphari’ Morris from Europe’s Rogue. These moves specifically address previous roster weaknesses:
- Jungle consistency: Santorin brings more stable early game pathing
- Top lane pressure: Alphari provides reliable side lane dominance
- Champion diversity: Eliminates previous draft limitations
“Our previous playstyle became too predictable,” Jensen explained. “Now we can adapt to any meta with multiple win conditions instead of relying on one approach.”
Worlds 2021: Liquid’s International Championship Aspirations
The new Danish mid-jungle duo of Jensen and Santorin represents one of Liquid’s most promising developments, despite initial visa-related practice limitations. Their partnership shows signs of becoming a strategic strength:
“We constantly discuss mid-jungle dynamics,” Jensen revealed. “From champion synergies to macro play, we’re building comprehensive coordination that should translate to tournament success.”
Liquid’s LCS Lock In performance demonstrated their potential, finishing second in their group despite using a substitute jungler for one match. While tournament success matters, Jensen emphasizes using these events to develop team chemistry and experiment with strategies.
The primary obstacle facing North American teams remains the region’s practice environment. Historically, LCS teams improve more through international scrims than domestic competition. Jensen acknowledges this challenge but sees signs of change:
- Rising LCS talent: More competitive practice with emerging players
- Strategic diversity: Less predictable regional meta developing
- Infrastructure improvements: Better coaching and analysis tools
“We won’t need to play catch-up at Worlds if we develop better internal competition,” Jensen noted, highlighting the importance of strong local opponents.
Jensen’s LCS Legacy and Future
Despite Europe’s recent international success over NA teams, including defeating Jensen’s Liquid at MSI 2019, the Danish star has reaffirmed his commitment to North American League of Legends.
“I considered returning to Europe,” Jensen admitted, “but my quality of life in NA and belief in this roster made the decision clear. Our top teams can compete with Europe’s best.”
Now entering his sixth LCS season, Jensen has developed into a franchise cornerstone for Liquid. His career achievements include:
- 2× LCS champion (2019 Summer, 2020 Spring)
- Worlds semifinalist (2018 with Cloud9)
- MSI finalist (2019)
The Summoner’s Cup remains the missing piece in Jensen’s trophy case, and he believes this Liquid roster gives him his best chance yet to claim it. “We’re built to win internationally,” he stated confidently.
Liquid begins their championship journey against FlyQuest in the LCS Lock In quarterfinals on January 24 at 4PM PT / 7PM ET – the first step toward realizing their ambitious 2021 goals.
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