It’s always fun to speculate how a team might look several years down the line. It’s impossible to predict accurately, of course, but how might the Liverpool team line up for the 2026/27 season?
As things stand, that will be their first campaign in the post-Jurgen Klopp era. Nine of the current first team squad are currently under contract for that season, and the players are well spread throughout the team. From Alisson Becker in goal through to Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez up front, the bones of a Reds side for the next five years are already in place.
But if we want to imagine the midfield of 2026, we may need to look backwards rather than forwards. The smattering of spectators at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain for an under-17 international between England and France in 2019 might have unexpectedly glimpsed the future of Liverpool.
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The English side contained Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott, then of Fulham but now both contracted to the Reds until 2027. They were two thirds of the attacking midfield trio in Steve Cooper’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
One of the players behind the now-Liverpool pair was Yunus Musah, who was then with Arsenal but currently plays for Valencia. The three featured in five matches together at that level, and Musah also played with Carvalho internationally at each stage from under-15 through to under-18.
However, he has since chosen to represent the United States at senior level and has received acclaim for his performances at the World Cup in Qatar. Rumour has it he has caught the attention of Liverpool, with 90min having reported that they and Chelsea have contacted the player’s representatives to register their interest.
Musah is under contract until 2026 and has a release clause of 100m Euros. It’s hard to envision Liverpool signing both him and Jude Bellingham, but perhaps he could be an option if the Dortmund star decides his future lies elsewhere.
Not that they’re the same kind of player, though they do share one key strength: dribbling. Bellingham and Musah are both in the top seven per cent (or better) of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for attempting and completing dribbles per 90 minutes, as well as using those dribbles to create shots ( per FBRef ).
And while Musah can’t match Bellingham for passes which result in goal attempts at club level, his efforts in the World Cup were on par with the latter’s Bundesliga form. Although he only created three chances directly in Qatar, the USA youngster played the penultimate pass for seven more opportunities, including for Timothy Weah’s goal against Wales.
Not that he can’t assist goals directly either, as he proved twice in Valencia’s 5-1 over Getafe in September. The first was the more impressive of the two, as he lofted a beautiful through ball over the defence and into the path of Samuel Lino, who volleyed home.
The second wasn't bad either, it’s just the through ball was much further up field, and goal scorer Hugo Duro then had to dribble into the box. They were a pair of sublime passes all the same, and a great showcase for what Musah offers.
Per The Analyst, he has also logged a carry (moving the ball at least five metres) leading to an assist, something only Luis Diaz has managed for the Reds this term. Over a year ago, Musah was the top player for threat from carries in a game against Real Madrid, when only 18-years-old.
He looks to have the defensive side covered too. Last season, only two midfielders in La Liga averaged more final third tackles per 90 than Musah, and one of them was Yeremy Pino ( who has also been linked with Liverpool ).
Add in that the US international’s rate for combined tackles and interceptions has risen with each passing season and it’s clear he is developing well. The Liverpool team of the future could shape up nicely with Musah providing a firm platform for his former teammates, Carvalho and Elliott.
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