Football is difficult to predict at the best of times. Who would have imagined, less than 12 months after Brighton and Hove Albion came within touching distance of securing Darwin Nunez’ signature, that very same player would be on his way to Liverpool for what could be a club-record fee of £85 million?
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
To put it simply, things change quickly in this most unpredictable of games.
One thing you can bet your bottom dollar on, however, is that Liverpool will still be fighting for football’s biggest prizes three of years from now. The 2022 Premier League runners’ up have not just constructed one of the most talented squads in world football,They've also laid the groundwork for a sustained period of bright red brightness unseen since the trophy-laden glory days of the 1970s and 1980s.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, and Ibrahima Konate will be at their primes in three years. Meanwhile, Andy Robertson has many years left at the top level. The same can be said for Fabinho, while Harvey Elliot, if he continues at his current rate of development, might develop at Anfield in the same way that Phil Foden did at Manchester City.
Who will Liverpool need to let go of?
On the other hand, there are definitely a couple of players making their way down the slope, fall leaves crinkling underfoot.Captain awestruck Jordan Henderson, like the injury-prone Thiago Alcantara, will be 34 in three years. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Roberto Firmino are all over 30, while James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are unlikely to remain Liverpool players in 2025.
At the very least, Liverpool have discovered a readymade replacement for Sadio Mane in the vivacious Luis Diaz. Bayern Munich is interested in Senegal's all-time leading goalscorer. In contrast, Mo Salah's exit can be postponed, but all indications lead to a split within the next year or so. In the summer of 2023, Salah will be a free agent.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool's arch-enemy, was the undisputed master of pulling down one dynasty and constructing a new one from the ruins. Klopp and his team are on the correct track in their efforts to accomplish the same, with the additions of Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Konate, Fabio Carvalho, and even Elliot serving as a statement of intent. Calvin Ramsay is expected to arrive from Aberdeen, however unseating Alexander-Arnold would be akin to climbing Mount Everest in a dressing robe and slippers.
Photographer: Lars Baron/Getty Images
On his way, Jude Bellingham?
According to the Times, Liverpool will prioritize midfield reinforcements next summer. And Jude Bellingham is almost certainly at the top of their list. Klopp's track record of developing potential youngsters into world-class stars should be more than enough to entice the former Birmingham City wonderkid back to England. Liverpool's chances will be aided by the manager's great relationship with the Dortmund hierarchy.
However, it is unclear how serious the club is about signing Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt at this time, but the former Ajax captain could only benefit from learning from – and maybe succeeding with – compatriot Van Dijk. According to Calciomercato,De Ligt is hesitant to extend his contract at the current terms offered by Juventus. He is said to be eager to join Liverpool provided the Merseyside club is willing to offer him £100,000 per week.
Trying to replace the irreplaceable?
With Salah's future unknown, Liverpool have been connected with several left-footed right-wingers. UOL claims that Liverpool has made a 'concrete proposal' to Ajax's card-shuffling magician Antony. Bukayo Saka is another, and Leeds attacker Raphinha's agent acknowledged Liverpool's interest a few months ago (Globo). Antony is most likely the most approachable of the three.
After all, Arsenal will go to any length to prevent its homegrown hero from joining a Premier League competitor. Raphinha, on the other hand, appears to be holding out for Barcelona.
Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images contributed to this image.
Perhaps Liverpool should look a little closer to home. Kaide Gordon, one of England's most promising teenage forwards, is polishing his enormous talents on Merseyside. Tyler Morton, a mature, technically gifted player who played nine first-team games in 2021/22, could also follow in Alexander-footsteps. Arnold's
Morton's positional knowledge and passing range could make him a strong candidate to replace Henderson. Keep an eye on Marcelo Pitaluga as well. Pitaluga, a 19-year-old goalkeeper with immense talent, has supposedly been put up as Alisson's long-term successor, though 2024 may be too soon for him.
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