Stay or Go? Deciding Which Players Liverpool Should Keep & Offload This Summer
It's been a hell of a ride for Liverpool over the last couple of years.
As reigning Premier League, world and (still for another couple of weeks) European champions, things could hardly have gone much better for Jurgen Klopp and his merry men.
The pandemic may have limited Liverpool's spending power in the transfer market for now but (the ire of fuming Twitter eggs aside) with one of the most settled and talented groups of players anywhere on the planet, massive change is not a necessity.
There will likely be some light pruning, book balancing and depth adding as the new season approaches in the blink of an eye.
Here's who looks set to remain and leave from the club's current squad...
1. Goalkeepers
Alisson Becker (STAY) - Well, duh.
Adrian (STAY) - Ok, it wasn't all smooth sailing, but finding a reliable backup keeper - who is also happy to be just that - is hard. Unless Jan Oblak suddenly decides he loves the look of the comfy Anfield benches, Liverpool have got a pretty decent number two.
Caoimhin Kelleher (LOAN) - At 21, it's probably about time Kelleher flew the nest and got himself some first-team experience, having made just four senior Liverpool appearances to date.
Kamil Grabara (LOAN) - Like Kelleher, Poland Under-21 stopper Grabara won't do huge good sticking around as third choice at Anfield and would be better off building on his potential (and sell-on value) out on loan after a solid campaign at Huddersfield in 2019/20.
Loris Karius (GO) - It's sad, but Liverpool have moved on and there seems to be no room for a redemption arc for the handsome but error-prone German.
2. Centre Backs
Virgil Van Dijk (GO) - ...Jk, obviously he stays.
Joe Gomez (STAY) - The former Charlton star is now established as Van Dijk's first choice partner and probably England's best centre-back.
Joel Matip (STAY) - He's dropped down the pecking order since starting the Champions League final in 2019, but Matip is a much loved and valued squad player, who - at 29 - has a few good years left in him.
Nathaniel Phillips (GO) - Brought back off loan for the FA Cup clash with Everton, Phillips spent most of 2019/20 on loan at 2. Bundesliga Stuttgart. At 23, his chances of ever being a real first-teamer at Anfield are dwindling fast.
Sepp van den Berg (STAY) - The young Dutchman's signing sparked a flurry of Googling last summer, but he has made just four cup appearances to date. If Liverpool don't sign a direct Dejan Lovren replacement, he could be moved up the ladder.
3. Full Backs
Trent Alexander-Arnold (STAY) - Yep, next.
Andy Robertson (STAY) - He'll have proper competition for the first time since ousting Alberto Moreno as first-choice left back in 2017/18, but Robertson is still the number one pick.
Neco Williams (STAY) - The youngster impressed in his cameos towards the end of the season and even got himself a Premier League medal. You'd expect him to get more appearances next season but then again, Alexander-Arnold does stand in his way.
Kostas Tsimikas (STAY) - Seeing as they've literally just signed him and Liverpool aren't managed by Harry Redknapp, it would be pretty odd if they tried to flog Tsimikas.
Ki-Jana Hoever (STAY) - Capable at centre- or full-back, 18-year-old Hoever looked very good in the cups last season and can probably expect a similar level of involvement in 2020/21
4. Central Midfielders
Jordan Henderson (STAY) - Yeah, again, not much question here.
Fabinho (STAY) - One of the world's finest holding midfielders. The only issue is that Liverpool don't really have like for like cover currently in the squad.
Georginio Wijnaldum (STAY) - Occasionally cops some stick for not scoring or assisting enough, but Wijnaldum's contribution as a possession retaining, transition operator is invaluable.
James Milner (STAY) - The 34-year-old's contract runs until 2022 and it is fully expected that he will keep winning every training ground bleep test until that time.
Naby Keita (STAY) - Starting to click into the player everyone hoped he would be...maybe. Keita still has time on his side to succeed as long as Liverpool stay successful.
Curtis Jones (STAY) - Probably the most impressive of the youngsters introduced by Klopp last season, Jones has the opportunity of a lifetime and is playing like he knows it.
Marko Grujic (GO) - Loaned out every year since 2018, 24-year-old Grujic is a prime candidate to be sold this summer to raise funds, which is a bit of a shame because he was actually Klopp's first signing.
5. Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
Mohamed Salah (STAY) - Still Liverpool's main goal threat, still vital.
Sadio Mane (STAY) - Possibly the club's most important player in 2019/20 as a whole. Even the very weak Real Madrid links seem to have dissipated now.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (STAY) - A useful squad player centrally or out wide, 2020/21 could be crucial for the Ox, who has yet to really push on from the promise of his first season before the injury.
Takumi Minamino (STAY) - He'll be given time but just what Minamino's role in the Liverpool squad is has yet to be defined.
Xherdan Shaqiri (GO) - Shaqiri's enjoyable cameo-laden first season was followed up by a difficult, injury-laden one. He seems to want out and if the club can get £20m then why not?
Harvey Elliott (STAY) - Goals for the new season: 1) get more league outings, 2) get a haircut.
Harry Wilson (GO) - Wilson has been impressive out on loan at both Derby and Bournemouth and has a wicked free kick, but there probably just isn't much room for him and if there's an opportunity to raise money...
Sheyi Ojo (GO) - Now 23, and following five loans, it's hard to keep up the pretence that Ojo will some day be of sufficient quality to merit a spot in the Reds first team.
Ben Woodburn (LOAN) - Remember Ben Woodburn? He is still only 20 and has a contract until 2022. Another loan is probably on the cards.
6. Strikers
Roberto Firmino (STAY) - Obligatory reference to how crucial Firmino is to Liverpool's attack.
Divock Origi (STAY) - Finding a half-decent striker who is (at least publicly) content to play bench-warmer is not an easy feat. He may not have built on his incredible 2018/19, but Divock stays.
Rhian Brewster (STAY) - He had been tipped to make a breakthrough last season but ended up at Swansea for the second half of the campaign, where he bagged 11 in 22. Surely the Under-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner is ready for some Premier League action.
Taiwo Awoniyi (GO) - The Nigerian youth international has struggled with work permit issues and his loan performances have never really made it look like Liverpool are really missing out. He may turn into a top striker one day, but it won't be at Anfield.