After a rocky start to Arne Slot’s second season in charge of Liverpool, the Reds find themselves in an underwhelming spot in the Premier League table. With pretty much no chances of winning the league back to back, their only realistic silverware hopes lie in the FA Cup trophy and if we are optimistic enough, the Champions League.
That reality comes as a huge surprise to pretty much everyone. After spending a record breaking sum of almost $670M (£500m) in transfers, the overall expectation was to retain the league title and be frontrunners for the European competition.
Oddly enough, it seems like all the incomings from last season have not been enough. Now more than ever, the weaknesses in the current squad are more apparent:
*a Mohamed Salah successor
*a Luis Díaz replacement (a void which, funny enough, was never addressed)
*a Premier League ready center back
*a reliable right back that can cover when both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are sidelined due to injuries, and the list goes on….
But even if the Reds bring no signings next summer, their potential XI could look completely different from what it is now. A change in formation, players dropped, and the addition of young center back duo Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet could truly showcase the beginning of the new era for Liverpool Football Club.
The Untouchables and the Future Backline of Liverpool
To start things off, the untouchable ones, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, will lead the team once again for yet another season. Two commanding figures who are arguably the best in the world in their positions.
It could also be the last season we see them start together, as both players have their contracts set to expire in 2027 and are not getting any younger, with Alisson turning 34 and Virgil turning 35 years old.
For Liverpool, that is not too big of a worry, with Giorgi Mamardashvilli ready to take on the challenge of becoming Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper whenever the time comes, and promising defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni also looking like they will be following Van Dijk’s footsteps, as the Merseyside club will be in need of a strong presence at the back.
Power and Speed at the Flanks: Frimpong and Kerkez
One of the biggest concerns in the life-after-Klopp transition period has always been who will be the deputies for Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
That question now appears to have found an answer, with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong having an electric start to their life at Anfield and quickly becoming fan favorites.
Both players are nailed into the starting XI when fit, although Frimpong’s fitness uncertainties might force the club into searching for a potential backup that can be relied on on a more consistent basis. If not, Conor Bradley is a luxury backup to have.
A Double Pivot Any Team Would Envy
The double pivot in this formation has two players that are undroppable, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. Even though there have been several claims that Liverpool is in desperate need of a natural defensive midfielder, which is true, the reality is that the contribution these two players make in the middle of the park is outstanding.
Elsewhere, unfortunately, the performances of Alexis Mac Allister have taken a huge dip, and he might find himself being surplus to requirements for the current squad. The Argentinian still has all the qualities to be a first team Liverpool player, but to start in this current team, you might need a bit more than just “quality.”
Florian Wirtz has been the revelation to this current team. After a slow start to his Liverpool career and having dealt with heavy criticism due to his record breaking transfer sum of $134M plus $22M in potential add ons, the German starlet has finally cemented himself as an indispensable piece for the Reds.
Life After Mo Salah: Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké
The big question, and a genuine topic of conversation, has always seemed to be when Liverpool will move on from Mohamed Salah, or how they could replace the Egyptian star. The answer is simple, you cannot replace him, but the one thing that everyone has learned from this current season is that the time has come to look at immediate solutions.
To make matters worse, there are no available wingers in the world who can provide the same level of threat and attack that Mohamed Salah gave this team. That is why switching to a two striker setup could be the solution, and that is where Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké come into play.
The French striker has proven to be a bright spark in attack and a world class forward. In fact, if it was not for Alexander Isak, there would be no debate on who would be the main central forward.
But we cannot ignore the quality of player that Alexander Isak is. Before his injury, there were not many forwards in the Premier League at the same level as the Swedish striker. With that two man force up front and with the linkup play of Florian Wirtz as a No. 10, the Reds will be a feared force in any competition.
A Final Look at the Potential Lineup:
