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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Liverpool line-up in 2025 predicted after Joe Gomez contract and Jude Bellingham signing

On Thursday afternoon Joe Gomez became the latest Liverpool player to commit his long-term future to the club as Jurgen Klopp and Julian Ward continued their mission of safeguarding the success which is currently being enjoyed at Anfield.

The defender, of course, follows in the footsteps of Mohamed Salah who finally ended the ongoing speculation surrounding his future as he penned a new three-year deal at the club late last week, a heavily incentivised contract which will see him become the highest earner in the club's history.

Before Ward was able to make such a significant breakthrough with Salah's agent Ramy Abbas earlier this month, he had brokered deals for 18-year-old full-back Calvin Ramsay, who will be tasked with serving as Trent Alexander-Arnold's understudy, and 19-year-old dynamic attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho.

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Though despite the promise of the aforementioned duo, it was the capture of 23-year-old Darwin Nunez which has clearly whetted the appetite of those on Merseyside ahead of the new Premier League campaign. The Uruguayan impressed during his two encounters with Klopp's men in the Champions League quarter-final tie in April and is expected to lead the Reds into a new era as they are tasked with dealing with Sadio Mane's departure to Bayern Munich.

Mane's move to Bavaria comes just one year after Gini Wijnaldum (31) switched Anfield for the Parc des Prince upon the expiration of his contract, and with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian and Roberto Firmino in line to follow the aforementioned duo out of the door next summer, here's how Liverpool's squad could look in 2025.

GK - Alisson

Having signed a new long-term deal at the club last summer, it seems unfathomable to imagine a world where Alisson Becker isn't lining up for Liverpool at the start of 2025/26, despite being 32 years of age. Having been so impressive in his four seasons at the club since he made the switch from AS Roma in 2018, the Brazilian has cemented his status as one of the best goalkeeper's the Premier League has ever seen.

Given the advancements in such recovery methods and preparations ahead of playing, Alisson will be hoping he can replicate the likes of Brad Friedel, Alec Chamberlain and Neville Southall who all played in the top flight well into their 40s.

Defence

Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Scouser in the team, will be going nowhere soon unfortunately for opposing full-backs in the Premier League. Since making his debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the autumn of 2016, Alexander-Arnold has gone from strength to strength at Anfield, underlined by his clean-sweep of all available trophies at just 23 years old.

With Jordan Henderson expected to depart Anfield when his contract expires in the summer of 2025, the defender could actually find himself as his successor during the 2025/26 season, which is due to be Klopp's last on Merseyside.

Elsewhere in defence, Ibrahima Konate and Gomez could finally be handed the chance to build their defensive partnership alongside one another, as Virgil van Dijk will take up an unfamiliar role as deputy having just turned 34.

It will be left to Andy Robertson, the Reds' flying Scotsman, to prove he is still the man to keep the left-hand side of Liverpool's defence on lock shortly after turning 31. With Kostas Tsimikas waiting in the wings and expected to build on the impressive outings he enjoyed during the 2021/22 season, it's fair to say Klopp will have plenty of options on the left-hand side of the defence.

Midfield

Another member of the Reds' squad who signed a new long-term contract last summer was the imperious Fabinho, who has cemented his reputation as one of the finest holding midfielders in world football since his surprise move to Anfield in 2018. Having been the linchpin of the Reds' Premier League and Champions League wins in recent seasons, Liverpool will not have to worry about finding another defensive midfielder while they have the Brazilian on their books.

Nineteen-year-old Harvey Elliott also found his impressive performances rewarded with a new contract last summer, just weeks after he finished his stellar campaign in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers. Originally brought to the club as a wide forward, Elliott has since been transitioned into a central midfielder and caught the eye of many supporters with his fantastic display against Burnley last August.

Having endured an injury-stricken campaign last time out, the midfielder will be hoping that this upcoming season allows him to lay the foundations for a lengthy career at Anfield in the heart of Klopp's midfield.

Naby Keita will be hoping he finds as the third man of the club's long-term midfield plans after his most productive season on Merseyside, last time out, cemented the belief that he could be a stalwart of Klopp's midfield for years to come.

Despite having just one year left on his current Anfield deal, it is believed that the Guinean who cost upwards of £50m in 2017, will put to paper on a new deal and continue to kick on with his Liverpool career.

However, Keita's place in the squad could be hampered by the potential arrival of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. The England international has been heavily linked with a switch to Merseyside in recent months and although Anfield officials have been keen to stress there will be no further incomings arriving in this window, it seems a real possibility that the Reds will look battle for his signature next year as reports state they won't baulk at the £100m+ asking price.

If Liverpool were able to secure the signature of the highly-coveted 19-year-old, it wouldn't unreasonable to suggest that he would immediately walk into Klopp's first-choice midfield, even with Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson still at the club.

Attack

Perhaps the department of the Liverpool squad which has seen the biggest overhaul during Ward's time as sporting director so far. Following Mane's departure last month and the expected one of Roberto Firmino in the coming years, it is likely that in 2025 the Reds will have just one member of their famed front three remaining at the club.

In the summer of 2025, Salah's latest three-year contract will have expired meaning that even the Egyptian could have moved onto pastures new and his departure would surely hand Fabio Carvalho the opportunity to stake his claim as a permanent fixture in Klopp's side.

The Portugal U21 international has featured as part of an attacking unit or in a deeper midfield role during his time at Fulham but going off his impressive return of 10 goals and eight assists in the Championship last season, Carvalho could be the man to take over the Egyptian King at Anfield.

He will be expected to be joined in the forward line by recent signings Nunez and Diaz, who are both products of the Primera Liga, as Ward's two most high-profile signings during his time as sporting director will be expected to lead the Reds' front line for years to come.

Liverpool will be expected to boast a wealth of talent waiting in the wings with the possibility of Diogo Jota, who is reportedly set to enter talks about extending his current deal, Van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and even Mohamed Salah potentially still at the club.

Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Gomez, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Bellingham; Carvalho, Diaz, Nunez

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