The story of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will continue after the German signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay at Anfield until 2026.
Klopp had previously hinted about potentially leaving Liverpool at the end of his current deal, which was set to expire in 2024. But in a change of heart, with his wife Ulla playing a key role, he has committed his future to Liverpool once more.
Liverpool's squad is potentially the best it's ever been, but with Klopp signing a new deal, he will get the chance to sign young players to enhance his squad, and develop it for the future too. With the likes of Jude Bellingham and Aurelian Tchouameni very much on the radar, Mirror Football take a look at what Klopp's Liverpool team could look like in the near future.
There's not a lot of improvement that can be made to Klopp's current squad, and the back-line will remain relatively unchanged for years to come. Goalkeeper Alisson is only 29, and has plenty of years ahead of him, as do Liverpool's full-back pairing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
Ibrahima Konate has already been signed for the future, and the 22-year-old already looks very capable at the highest level, but Klopp may be considering another addition towards the end of his contract. They're in their prime right now, but Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are both 30, and will begin to lose some pace by 2026.
It's Liverpool's midfielder that's expected to get the most attention, even with Thiago in the form of his life, and skipper Jordan Henderson once again proving his worth in the Champions League against Villarreal. Fabinho is the untouchable enforcer in the middle of the park, but Thiago and Henderson are both the wrong side of 30.
Liverpool continue to be linked with both Bellingham and Tchouameni, and the pair could lift Klopp's midfield later down the line. They're also still yet to replace Georginio Wijnaldum, who departed for Paris Saint Germain in the summer.
Instead, Klopp has given more senior roles to Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, but it's likely that one of their midfield targets will be pursued, if not both. And they're already expecting one arrival in the summer, as Fabio Carvalho looks set to sign from Fulham at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old can player either out wide or in the midfield, as Klopp looks to maximise his options yet again. But it's believed that Carvalho has been targeted as a back-up for Mohamed Salah, who still may or may not be leaving.
However, as part of Klopp's new deal, you'd expect that FSG have something up their sleeves to re-sign both Sadio Mane and Salah, who still have a lot to give in Liverpool's front-line. As does January signing Luis Diaz, who has been exceptional since arriving from Porto.
Diaz is the latest signing in an eventual front-three replacement, as the iconic trio of Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah will slowly be fazed out for Diaz, Diogo Jota and potentially Carvalho when they all age. For now though, Klopp is blessed with an array of attacking talent, and it's by no coincidence that they're still in every competition due to their rotation.
Klopp's potential dream XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Diaz, Mane Salah.
