Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool face a huge task this summer, with the outlook of their current squad looking increasingly unclear as key players enter the latter stages of their careers.
Last season promised much, with the Reds coming as close as any team ever has to winning a famous quadruple the year before. However, they struggled to cope in the early stages of the campaign, with just two wins in their opening eight Premier League matches, conceding valuable early ground to Man City and Arsenal.
In addition, the Reds never got up to speed in the Champions League, with a 4-1 group stage defeat away to Napoli exposing the Reds' frailties and stretched squad before they eventually exited at the round of 16 stage.
Injuries did not help, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara all missing large chunks of the campaign as young players such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones were given a platform to perform.
They looked back to their best following the return of Jota and Diaz in early April, but there eventually proved to be too much ground to make up to Man Utd and Newcastle in the race for the top four. However, seven wins in a row were enough to provide optimism for next season.
It will be a crucial summer in the recent history of the club, with a huge overhaul expected, here are some of the key points for Liverpool to consider ahead of the transfer window:
Midfield overhaul
Midfield is the key area of scrutiny for Liverpool, with Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara now both aged 32, while the departures of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left gaps to fill. Fabinho, at 29, looks to be struggling to live up to his early Anfield form and presents a long-term problem which may also need resolving this summer.
Ageing legs has left a dependence on young players such as Jones and Elliott to perform. Alexis Mac Allister's arrival is welcome, but Klopp is keen to add further option to his squad with two standout names emerging in Inter's Nicolo Barella and Nice's Khephren Thuram.
Barella was a key member of the Inter squad which reached the Champions League final and his ability on the ball would enable the Reds to gain more control of matches - something Klopp is continually striving to achieve. The arrival of Thuram, who dominates in possession and is a great ball carrier, would also benefit this cause.
Henderson used to provide a similar work ethic in Klopp's midfield, but the Reds' captain is no longer a guaranteed starter. Should moves for neither Thuram nor Barella come to fruition, a new name could enter the fold, with two Atletico Madrid players, Marcos Llorente and team-mate Rodrigo De Paul, having the profile and temperament to play the role previously performed by Henderson.
De Paul has been linked with a switch to Anfield previously and his combination with Mac Allister would work well, as evidenced by their chemistry at the World Cup for Argentina which provided the perfect midfield base for La Albiceleste's tournament win.
Establish Alexander-Arnold's long-term role
Early last season, Alexander-Arnold began to look more exposed than ever, with critics slamming his defensive abilities as not being good enough.
However, his form over the back end of last season has opened up a new role which looks to be where his future is heading. Alexander-Arnold's performed superbly as an inverted full-back and thrived in the central areas.
Key to that will be providing Alexander-Arnold with the right structure around him. Playing in a back four led by Virgil van Dijk brought the best out of the full-back, and he'll be desperate for the Dutchman to rediscover his best form next term. Henderson, meanwhile, provided Alexander-Arnold with valuable defensive support to enable his world class playmaking skills to flourish - something any new additions will need to be wary of.
Long-term planning and lower expectations
Increasingly loud voices on social media demand big-name players to arrive every window, with many modern football fans' expectations reminiscent of playing a FIFA career mode and signing the likes of Kylian Mbappe every summer.
This does not provide the foundations for a successful team. Liverpool's best years under Klopp saw players signed from the likes of Southampton (Van Dijk & Mane), Roma (Alisson & Salah), Hoffenheim (Firmino) and Hull (Andy Robertson). These players all brought a hunger to succeed, rather than lofty expectations of success.
There are areas where long-term replacements are required, with ageing legs an increasing issue within the squad. A young centre-back could be brought in, with Van Dijk and Matip both reaching the latter stages of their careers.
Recent reports linking 20-year-old Chelsea defender Levi Colwill to the club could provide the perfect solution and would be an ideal left-footed option alongside Ibrahima Konate.
Fabinho's form last season will also have been enough to raise concerns, though those have perhaps been offset somewhat by the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic, who flourished during his breakout season. That said, another young defensive midfielder could still be on Liverpool's radar.
Fulham's Joao Palhinha has been mentioned, while Leeds' Tyler Adams may be a good option. Adams, 24, made 89 tackles last season, matching Man Utd's Casemiro, and has shown leadership qualities as captain of the USA national team.
