Liverpool will likely have a very different first-choice starting line-up by the time next season begins.
The Reds are braced for a busy summer transfer window that could see some new signings arrive at Anfield ahead of the new season. How many will arrive remains uncertain, of course, but Liverpool will certainly have targets in mind.
Manager Jurgen Klopp indicated earlier this week that "the club will spend in the summer, definitely". The 4-1 defeat away to Manchester City highlighted just how much a rebuild is needed. But who could be part of it?
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Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham remains the club’s number one transfer target for the summer. The Bundesliga club are likely to demand a fee in excess of £100m for his services.
Klopp is an admirer of Bellingham, but he is not alone. Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest in signing the England international at the end of the season.
Were Liverpool to get a deal over the line to sign Bellingham, he would undoubtedly be a regular starter for the Reds - and as a result, be in Klopp’s dream line-up for next season.
Another midfielder linked with Liverpool is Mason Mount. The Chelsea star is reportedly likely to leave Stamford Bridge as negotiations over a new deal fail to reach a conclusion.
Chelsea could look to sell Mount in the summer, which has led to Liverpool being linked with a move. Were he to sign for the Reds, he would likely compete with the existing midfielders at Anfield for a starting place.
Alisson Becker will remain Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper for quite some time, but Liverpool’s defence could be set for a change or two. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are the preferred full-back options and are also unlikely to change.
But Liverpool have also been linked with possible defensive reinforcements this summer. Josko Gvardiol and Evan Ndicka are the two names who are rumoured to be of interest to the Reds, although club sources have sought to cool speculation around the latter.
Virgil van Dijk is likely to remain the first-choice defender under Klopp, so the question will be around who his centre-back partner will be. Ibrahima Konate seems to be first-choice at the moment, while there is also Joe Gomez and Joel Matip at present.
Were one of either Gvardiol or Ndicka to be signed, then they would still face a battle to get into the team ahead of Konate. But it’s possible, of course, given that Konate himself has impressed since his move to Anfield two years ago.
Up front, Mohamed Salah is a mainstay on the right. And while Roberto Firmino is leaving, Liverpool still have other forward options to choose from.
Cody Gakpo’s arrival combined with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez as versatile options gives Klopp plenty of ability to set up his team in different ways.
Luis Diaz will be gunning to win back his left-wing spot, eager to show his ability after spending the majority of this season on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Liverpool’s dream XI for 2023/24: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk; Robertson; Fabinho, Bellingham, Mount; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
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