MY ACCOUNT
The January transfer window has only just closed, but attention is already turning to the summer at Anfield.
Liverpool’s ageing squad means a period of rebuilding could be in store for the Merseysiders as they look to keep the good times rolling under Jurgen Klopp.
As the Reds’ boss gets set for this afternoon’s trip to Burnley, we assess how he might reshape his squad in the off-season.
New blood needed
Liverpool currently have the fourth-oldest squad in the Premier League, with the average age of their players used this season standing at 27.5.
Without some degree of change, that figure is only going to go up. Experience is important but not everlasting and the club will be fully aware that they have to nurture the experience of the future.
The Reds need to start reducing that average age which means there will be some difficult decisions in store when it comes to a number of the side’s longer-serving members.
Throwing it forward
No Liverpool fan will want to think about it, but life after Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane is not really all that far away.
Both turn 30 in the coming months and have been linked with moves away from Anfield.
The oldest forward in the squad is 30-year-old Roberto Firmino. He was part of the Reds’ 46-goal front three in the 2019-20 title-winning side but has effectively already been replaced by Diogo Jota, who only turned 25 in December.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Harvey Elliott and 25-year-old January signing Luis Diaz are waiting in the wings.
It is too early to say whether they can emulate the club’s current first-choice attackers but Liverpool do look well-prepared for the next era up front.
Changing of the guard
The area potentially set for the biggest overhaul this summer is the Reds’ midfield.
Age is not such a concern here — in fact, even at 36, it would not be remotely surprising to see James Milner extend his Anfield stay by at least another year.
Now in his fourth campaign on Merseyside, Naby Keita has still yet to fully convince and Klopp may look to sell the Guinea international.
And doing so may allow Liverpool to belatedly sign a successor to Georginio Wijnaldum — who they have not directly replaced since his departure on a free transfer last summer.
Defensive depth
After last season’s injury crisis at the back left their title defence in tatters, Liverpool were bound to sign a centre-back in the summer — and so they did, making Ibrahima Konate their sole acquisition of the window.
Could they make more moves in that department next time around? Earlier this week, Klopp emphasised the importance of the Reds’ central defenders to the team as a whole.
He said: “We had too many injuries in the centre-half position in the last few years, that’s how it is, that’s why we struggled at times.
“Long may it continue that we have all our centre-halves available because it’s obviously a really important position for us.”
Alisson’s heir
At 29, Alisson — one of the very best goalkeepers on the planet — could well go on for another decade. There is no playing position with greater longevity.
That said, continuing to perform at an elite level for such a prolonged period is another matter. Realistically the bearded Brazilian will not be Liverpool’s No1 for the next 10 years.
But the Reds probably do not need to worry. In Caoimhin Kelleher — who Klopp has already said will start this month’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea — the club have a highly promising potential heir to Alisson.
They do not need to do any dramatic business between the sticks.
