In brief
After this season, Liverpool will undergo significant changes as Arne Slot aims to impose his ideology and authority on a team created by Jurgen Klopp.
Some players, like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, are essential to the team and are unlikely to be moved, but their contract renewals are up in the air.
Players like Andrew Robertson also have uncertain futures, and others like Caoimhin Kelleher appear certain to depart.
Under Arne Slot’s new leadership, the team is thriving like never before and leads the Premier League by 12 points. Liverpool’s current predicament seems nothing short of spectacular at first glance.
However, there are some lingering doubts that could obscure the positive story underlying this façade of accomplishment. Concerning indications are suggested by recent public remarks made by important individuals as summer draws near. Since the contracts of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah all expire in the summer, their futures remain uncertain.
In light of all the uncertainty, GIVEMESPORT has categorised players into six groups and determined which ones Liverpool should keep and sell when the summer transfer window opens. They are:
Need to maintain
A valuable addition to the team
A gifted child
The jury is yet out; pay attention to offers.
Get rid of
Need to Maintain
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, and Ryan Gravenberch
These players are essential to Liverpool’s style of play, and while a minor overhaul at Anfield may still be required to keep the team young, there is just no justification for any of them to be cut under Slot. Most people agree that Alisson is the league’s finest goalie at the moment, but there are also many who contend that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson are the best in their respective positions right now.
Then there are two more recent additions. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have developed a strong working relationship. The two are currently one of the league’s top centre-back combinations, and he still has room to improve at the age of 25. In contrast, Mac Allister hasn’t wasted any time showcasing his qualifications since completing a transfer from Brighton in the summer of 2023.
After being marginalised the previous term, Ryan Gravenberch also matches this description. He is now considered to be among the top midfield players in the world of football after revealing a new side of himself this season.
There are still a lot of adjectives that might be used to characterise the Egyptian international Mohamed Salah. His explosive play, which has seen him directly contribute to 44 goals in 29 Premier League games since the season began, has helped the Reds take the lead.
It would be foolish for FSG to let him go, even though his contract is coming to an end and the 32-year-old has stated that he is still totally dedicated to Anfield. Since one of the finest players in the world right now wants to stay, many are pushing for Salah to write whatever pay he wants on the dotted line. Over the past 20 years, players have frequently used Liverpool as a stepping stone.
Beneficial to Have in the Team
Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Jarell Quansah
These players are nonetheless valuable to the squad even though they may not be as essential as those in the highest division. They still have responsibilities to perform and are competent players, but they might not be as reliable, significant, or accessible as guys like Van Dijk.
Although Mac Allister and Gravenberch are more important to Liverpool’s supremacy in midfield than Dominik Szoboszlai, the midfielder is still good and gets better every week in the Premier League. The same is true for Cody Gakpo, who is most likely to score ten goals for the first time in a Premier League campaign.
Through the upcoming season, the new manager will have competent options in Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, and Harvey Elliott. These players can all contribute from the bench or when important personnel are not in the starting lineup.
Talented Child
Harvey Davies, Tyler Morton, Jayden Danns, Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Conor Bradley, and Stefan Bajcetic
The quantity of gifted young players that Jurgen Klopp gave chances to while he was in the dugout is one of the long-lasting effects he left behind at Anfield. Under his tutelage, Alexander-Arnold has emerged into a world-beater, and the Reds have a number of other young talents in the pipeline who could emerge as their next great star.
Over the past two seasons, Conor Bradley has gained a lot of fans’ attention due to his excellent defensive substitutions in place of the dependable Alexander-Arnold. If Alexander-Arnold were to leave this summer, he might end up starting every game. Under their former German coach, Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, and Jayden Danns were all given opportunities, particularly during the historic Carabao Cup final matchup with Chelsea.
Unfortunately, Stefan Bajcetic missed the most of the previous season due to an early-season calf muscle injury. However, he made a name for himself as one of the Premier League’s most promising young players in 2022–2023, and supporters will be eager to see what he can accomplish when he returns from a loan stint with Las Palmas this season.
It’s unclear if each player will stay at Anfield for the upcoming campaign or go out on loan once more. However, Liverpool shouldn’t rush into signing players who have bright futures.
The Jury is Still Out
Federico Chiesa
Many praised it as the transfer window’s best deal when Federico Chiesa, the Reds’ only immediate acquisition in the first summer after Klopp, moved from Juventus to Liverpool for a meagre £14 million. The excitement among the Anfield supporters, who were hoping to see the Italian transform his passion for his new team into memorable performances on the pitch, was only increased by the bright smile he sported while writing.
But Chiesa’s first six months on Merseyside have been hampered by injuries, so he hasn’t done much thus far. The question of whether he can be the Salah understudy that everyone anticipated he would be remains unanswered if his image as an injury-prone asset persists.
Listen to Offers
Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataru Endo, Vitezslav Jaros, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota
Even though he is one of the league’s top left-backs, Andrew Robertson has begun to show indications of deteriorating. The 31-year-old Scotsman is no longer as dependable as he once was. Although his contributions to the team over the past seven years will always be appreciated by the supporters, his role might be upgraded. Should high-priced offers come in, a number of changes might be made at left-back because Kostas Tsimikas hasn’t appeared to be the heir apparent either.
For Vitezslav Jaros and Caoimhin Kelleher, the goalkeeping duo, it’s practically the exact opposite. Although the former is frequently regarded as the world’s best backup custodian, it appears that the Republic of Ireland international will be leaving sooner rather than later as he rightfully seeks a position as a number one somewhere else. Jaros, who is probably not going to be needed, and Kelleher are both free to move as Giorgi Mamardashvili will also be joining next summer.
Wataru Endo might also become a victim of Liverpool’s expanding depth in the squad. The rise of Gravenberch, Bajcetic, and the potential addition of a new defensive midfielder could lessen the 32-year-old’s significance in the club, despite the fact that he is a tireless warrior off the bench who does everything in his power to assist his team preserve an advantage. Although he is unquestionably good enough to play for the team, it’s one of those situations where he may not be needed as much as he once was.
As consistent starts under the previous manager, attacking combo Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz were seen as untouchables during Slot’s first summer transfer window. Both, though, have not shared enough of the goal-scoring load with Salah and appear to have deteriorated over the new manager’s first season. At Anfield, a revamp of the front three might be imminent.
Get Rid of Everyone
Few people could have predicted that Liverpool would be in the remarkable position they are in now after Klopp left. Concerns about contract renewal notwithstanding, the team is so good that, as of right now, not a single member seems to be beyond redemption or without a way to rejoin the team.
As Slot continues to work with the current team and establish his imprint on the lineup, this could undoubtedly change. The complete implementation of his methodology is still unknown, after all. But, with only one Premier League defeat this season, there is now no reason to even consider his players’ departure lounge.
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