How Liverpool could line up after 2024 summer transfer window

It promises to be a summer of enormous change for Liverpool as they prepare for life without Jurgen Klopp for the first time in almost a decade.

The iconic Liverpool manager has announced he will step aside come the end of the current campaign, with the club's former midfield star Xabi Alonso identified as the perfect replacement for the 56-year-old.

However, Bayern Munich are also fighting with all their might to convince Alonso of a move to the Allianz Arena, with Liverpool's future still uncertain until a decision is made by the Spanish coach.

It's difficult to know what to expect from the Reds in this summer's transfer window, especially given they still need to fill the vacant sporting director position. Whoever replaces Klopp in the Anfield dugout will expect to receive significant funds to shape an already talented squad.

Here's how the Reds could line up next season following a transitional summer on Merseyside.

Goalkeeper & defence

While the potential arrival of Alonso as Liverpool's new head coach may change the formation played by the Reds - the Bayer Leverkusen boss currently fields a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 in the Bundesliga - let's assume Klopp's successor persists with the 4-3-3 setup Liverpool's players are accustomed with.

Unsurprisingly, there will be no change between the sticks with Alisson still one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. However, the Reds are likely to bring at least one new backup goalkeeper to Anfield given Adrian's contract expires in the summer and Caoimhin Kelleher has attracted interest from elsewhere.

Liverpool suddenly look incredibly well-stocked at right-back despite seeming a little light in that position at the start of the campaign, with Trent Alexander-Arnold undoubtedly still the club's first-choice. The emergence of the young and impressive Conor Bradley has been a blessing for the Reds, while Joe Gomez is more than capable of filling in on the right side of defence as well.

At left-back, Liverpool also have options. Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have both returned from long-term injuries in recent weeks, while Gomez also showed his versatility by adopting the role during their absence. However, there are suggestions that the Reds will try to recruit a central defender capable of playing left-back this summer, with Goncalo Inacio one of the players most reliably linked.

The talented Portuguese would not only offer cover at centre-back but also be able to perform the kind of role Nathan Ake or Josko Gvardiol does at Manchester City, offering Liverpool greater defensive structure and enabling the likes of Alexander-Arnold and Bradley more freedom on the right.

At £52m, the 22-year-old Sporting CP defender could be money well spent, especially given veteran Joel Matip could leave when his deal runs out this summer having torn his ACL.

The resurgence of Virgil van Dijk has been key to Liverpool's dazzling season to date and the skipper still has a few good years left in him. He will partner Ibrahima Konate next term, who has been similarly impressive in recent months. The rise of 21-year-old Jarell Quansah means the Reds don't need to go out and sign a sparkly new wonderkid in the heart of defence.

Midfield

Liverpool made four signings last summer and they were all midfielders. The Reds' overhaul of the engine room has allowed them to be far more competitive this season, while also offloading Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

However, that doesn't mean Liverpool are done in that department. The consistently sidelined Thiago Alcantara will leave Anfield when his contract expires this summer, with the Reds perhaps using the Spaniard's departure as an opportunity to add another more natural defensive midfielder to their squad.

Alexis Mac Allister has performed there for much of the season but is better suited to a more advanced role. The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, alongside Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch, mean Liverpool have fantastic options in the number eight position.

However, while Wataru Endo has been superb since arriving on Merseyside in the summer, the Japan international will be 32 by the end of next season. Young Stefan Bajcetic is a good option for the future, but he has been injured for almost the entirety of the current campaign.

Therefore, Liverpool could make a move in the market for another orthodox number six, with Martin Zubimendi a strong option. A more progressive holding midfielder, the Real Sociedad star has already played under potential new boss Alonso and has blossomed into a fantastic deep-lying playmaker - the 25-year-old now has four caps for Spain.

Forwards

One area that Liverpool seemingly don't need to strengthen is their forward line. The Reds have been devastating in the final third yet again this season, with Mohamed Salah still putting up incredible numbers and Darwin Nunez finding his feet in English football.

If there wasn't enough energy and quality in that front two already, you can easily throw the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz into the mix, although Diogo Jota is probably ahead of those two in the pecking order.

Of course, you can never have too many creative players in a squad, especially given how frequently Liverpool seem to suffer with significant injuries. The Reds could look to add another name to their attacking roster in the summer, even if it's not priority number one - unless Salah were to leave for Saudi Arabia, of course.

In terms of options at Alonso's Leverkusen, the likes of Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz would be fantastic additions. Elsewhere, the Reds have been touted with moves for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko and Athletic Club's Nico Williams.

Potential Liverpool lineup for 2024/25 season

(4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Inacio; Szoboszlai, Zubimendi, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Jota.

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