Liverpool’s squad depth has never been stronger.
With the Reds chasing an unprecedented quadruple, having already won the League Cup this season, Jurgen Klopp has been gifted by the presence of virtually a fully fit squad for a number of weeks now.
Sure, there have been slight injuries to the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, but as Liverpool prepare to travel Brighton on Saturday, they are faced by the timely prospect of having every senior player available.
As a result, Klopp will face some tough decisions when it comes to naming his matchday squad, with the German already having had the unenviable task of leaving players out altogether, such are the options he currently has at his disposal in recent weeks.
It certainly makes a welcome change to the injury problems that have cursed the Reds over the past few seasons, never more so than the centre-back injury crisis that derailed their Premier League title defence last year.
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As it stands, Liverpool have 22 senior outfield players competing for a place in Klopp’s matchday squad. He can name 20 players altogether for domestic matches, while in Europe that total rises to 23.
Either way, add in a minimum of two goalkeepers and it’s clear some players are going to be left disappointed, temporarily out in the cold on a weekly basis.
To be fair to Klopp, he has looked to rotate his left out players with Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi all missing some games despite being available for selection.
The Reds boss will have to maintain such a balancing act for the rest of the season as Liverpool look to go all the way in both the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as beat Man City to Premier League glory, with the lure of such silverware perhaps helping to maintain squad harmony.
But what about beyond that?
In the past, the Reds have seen the likes of Lucas Leiva, Danny Ings, Simon Mignolet, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri all leave for pastures new, in search of more regular game-time under the German’s watch.
With players out of contract and others returning from loans this summer, more exits will follow when the transfer market re-opens. And not just to create space and raise funds for FSG 's next Reds signings.
So which players could be on the move in the summer? We take a look…
James Milner
The long-serving Liverpool vice-captain is out of contract in the summer and, despite Jurgen Klopp’s public desire to keep the midfielder at Anfield, it might not be enough to retain the 36-year-old’s services. The German had wanted to keep Gini Wijnaldum with the club after all.
A vital player behind the scenes and still more than capable when turned to, the veteran is understandably at a stage in his career when game-time with the Reds is declining.
If he’s happy in his role and willing to accept reduced terms, sure he could sign a Liverpool contract extension. But if he wants to play more in the final years of his career, it would be no surprise to see Milner depart at the end of his contract.
Joe Gomez
After returning from injury in the summer, Gomez has found game-time hard to come by at Anfield this season.
Making just five Premier League appearances, he has started only once and it would be no surprised if he was growing frustrated.
Linked with Real Madrid and Aston Villa in the past, the 24-year-old is at the age where he needs to be playing and might look to move on in search of more game-time, especially with a World Cup place with England to play for.
Adrian
It was a slight surprise when Adrian signed a new one-year contract with Liverpool last summer, having fallen to third in the goalkeeping pecking order behind Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Spaniard is a capable reserve and popular member of the Anfield dressing room, but it remains to be seen if he’ll pen new terms again this summer when his contract expires.
He has played just once this season and it would be no surprise if the 35-year-old did want to move on and look to be a number one elsewhere as opposed to an experienced back-up for the Reds.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been enjoying a successful season with Liverpool on the quiet, seemingly putting his injury problems of the past behind him, yet remains far down the pecking order when everyone is fit.
Out of contract in 2023, it remains to be seen if the Reds will look to move him on before his deal expires, offer him new terms or let him leave on a free.
Now 28, the England international might be looking to make up for lost time after so many injuries and move on to be a starter elsewhere.
Takumi Minamino
Shining in the domestic cup competitions this season, Minamino has still found opportunities limited when it comes to Premier League and Champions League action.
Behind the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz in the pecking order, such a situation is hardly likely to change anytime soon.
The Japan international has impressed when turned to this year, but has also been linked with a move away, both in January and last summer, and Liverpool are unlikely to stand in his way if he did wish to depart in search of regular starting football.
Loris Karius
Out of contract in the summer, the goalkeeper will leave Anfield on a permanent basis four years on from his last competitive appearance for the club.
Liverpool had looked to offload him sooner, only for no suitable offers to be forthcoming, but Karius will be free to resume his career elsewhere when his deal expires.
Divock Origi
Origi had been available for transfer last summer, and indeed numerous times in the past, only for Liverpool not to receive any suitable offers.
Out of contract in the summer, the Reds have a one-year option on his deal but are unlikely to stand in his way if he does wish to move on.
Nothing more than a reserve option at Anfield, the Belgian has fulfilled that role with distinction and will not be begrudged the opportunity to be a starter elsewhere.
Ben Davies
Currently on loan at Sheffield United, Davies was signed in the midst of Liverpool’s centre-back injury crisis last January
Failing to make a competitive appearance for the Reds in that time, his situation is unlikely to change with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, at least, all ahead of him in the pecking order.
It will be a surprise if the defender doesn’t depart again, either permanently or on loan in the summer, with perhaps only the potential lack of a suitable offer set to keep him at Anfield.
Nat Phillips
A star player for Liverpool last season, emerging at the heart of their centre-back injury crisis, Phillips joined AFC Bournemouth on loan in January after falling back down the Reds pecking order.
The 24-year-old had been allowed to leave permanently, only for the club not to receive any suitable offers before sanctioning his temporary exit.
With his situation unchanged at Anfield, the hope will be his time with the Cherries prompts more appropriate bids in the summer with the defender having Klopp’s blessing to move elsewhere in search of first team football.
Sheyi Ojo
It has been over five years since Ojo last made a competitive appearance for Liverpool, with the winger instead enjoying a succession of loan moves.
Currently with Millwall, following switches to Fulham, Reims, Rangers and Cardiff City, he looks certain to at least depart on loan once more, if not permanently, come the summer when his stint with the Lions expires.
Ben Woodburn
On loan with Hearts, Woodburn is currently in the final year of his Liverpool contract.
The midfielder impressed in pre-season training with the Reds before his temporary move north of the border.
Liverpool have tied down players to long-term contracts before sending them out on loan in the past in a bid to protect their value. The lack of such a deal for the Wales international suggests he will leave the club when his contract expires.
Neco Williams
Currently on loan at Fulham, Williams is shining in the Championship after leaving Liverpool in January.
The Wales international had been made available for transfer both last summer and at the start of the year, before the Reds sanctioned his move to Craven Cottage.
Behind Trent Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order, he will be allowed to depart to become first-choice elsewhere and cement his place in Wales’ squad for a potential World Cup appearance.
The rest?
Of course, these aren’t the only players with question marks over their Anfield futures. Along with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita are all out of contract in 2023 and yet to pen fresh terms. Free to discuss pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs from January, it remains to be seen how their respective futures will unfold.
Meanwhile, Curtis Jones finds himself in a similar position to Gomez where a lack of game-time at Anfield could see him questioning his future.
And the likes of Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg are likely candidates for loan moves, but who knows, if the interest is there they could end up departing permanently.
Either way, the stage is set for a rather busy and intriguing summer at Anfield.
