Arne Slot has got a proper mess on his hands.
Twelve months ago, Liverpool was kings of England. £446million splashed. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, all through the door. Fans was dreaming of a dynasty.
Instead? A nightmare.
The Reds will hand back their Premier League crown without so much as a whimper. Best they can hope for is top five. Paris Saint Germain dumped them out of Europe 4-0 on aggregate. Manchester City battered them 4-0 in the FA Cup quarters. Crystal Palace beat them twice Community Shield AND Carabao Cup.
Slot needs surgery. Major surgery. Here’s who stays, who goes, and who’s already packed their bags.
Goalkeepers
Alisson: KEEP
Injuries have cursed him. Concussion. Hamstring. Missed 18 games. But when he plays, he’s still world class. Juventus sniffing around? Doesn’t matter. You don’t bin a keeper like that.
Giorgi Mamardashvili: KEEP
The Georgian has been superb deputising. Sixteen appearances before a knee injury ended his run. Alisson’s 33. This lad is the future No.1. No debate.
Freddie Woodman: KEEP
Free transfer from Preston. Thrown in at the deep end when Mamardashvili got crocked. Held his own. Perfect backup. No reason to shift him.
Defenders
Joe Gomez: SELL
Injuries again. Missed eight games. Barely starts anymore. Served the club well but time’s up. Fresh blood needed.
Virgil van Dijk: KEEP
Captain. Leader. Still carrying this side on his shoulders. Club wants a long term successor but you don’t chuck him out yet. Keep him to mentor the next generation.
Ibrahima Konate: KEEP (sign da ting)
Free agent this summer. Real Madrid lurking. But he’s reportedly close to signing an extension. If that pen hits paper, brilliant. If not? Disaster.
Milos Kerkez: KEEP (but needs work)
£???million signing. Dislodged Andy Robertson. Then started making mistakes. The talent is there. Slot just needs to coach it out of him.
Conor Bradley: KEEP
Knee injury ruined his season. Before that? Unreal. Future Anfield hero written all over him.
Giovanni Leoni: KEEP
ACL in his debut season. Cruel. But showed enough in September to warrant patience. Give him time.
Andy Robertson: LEAVING (confirmed)
Vice captain. Nearly a decade at Anfield. Going on a free. Tottenham among the clubs circling. End of an era.
Jeremie Frimpong: KEEP
Summer signing. Regular starter. No brainer. Keep him and let him hunt trophies.
Calvin Ramsay: LOAN
Two cup appearances. Needs minutes badly. Loan him out and see if he sinks or swims.
Midfielders
Wataru Endo: SELL
Thirty three years old. Twelve appearances. Racing to be fit for the World Cup. Liverpool need younger legs. Thanks for your service, but off you go.
Florian Wirtz: KEEP
Tough debut. Criticism followed him round like a bad smell. But he’s got genius in those feet. You don’t bail on a player like that after one bad season.
Dominik Szoboszlai: KEEP
Real Madrid linked. Of course they was. He’s been electric. Build the team around him. Simple.
Alexis Mac Allister: KEEP
Linked with an exit. Form has dipped. But he’s under contract until 2028 and no concrete offers have landed. Keep. Reevaluate next year.
Curtis Jones: SQUEEZY ONE
Forty six appearances this season. Heavily relied upon. Yet contract talks have stalled. Clubs circling. Could go. Might stay. Genuinely 50/50.
Ryan Gravenberch: KEEP
Signed a new deal until 2032. Going nowhere. Build around him and Szoboszlai. That’s your midfield spine.
Trey Nyoni: LOAN
Eighteen years old. Thirteen senior appearances. Huge potential. But he needs regular football. Loan him to a Championship side and let him cook.
Stefan Bajcetic: LOAN/SELL
Not appeared for Liverpool in two years. Injuries. Loans. Silence. His name barely gets mentioned. Another loan or a permanent exit. Either way, he’s not part of Slot’s plans right now.
Forwards
Alexander Isak: KEEP
£125m deadline day statement signing. Then he broke his leg. Nightmare. Give him a proper sophomore season. The talent hasn’t vanished.
Hugo Ekitike: KEEP (heartbreaking)
Twenty three goal contributions. Then an Achilles tear against PSG. Out for up to 12 months. Will miss the World Cup. Liverpool must stand by him. No question.
Mohamed Salah: LEAVING (legend)
Nine years. Two Premier League titles. One Champions League. Third on the club’s all time scorers list. Goes down as a modern day icon. Walk alone no more, Mo.
Federico Chiesa: SELL
Slot’s first signing. £10m bargain from Juve. Barely plays. Linked with a January exit. Sell him and move on. Not every gamble pays off.
Cody Gakpo: KEEP
Dependable. Versatile. One of the few bright spots in that Manchester United defeat. Keep him. He’ll do a job anywhere across the front line.
Rio Ngumoha: KEEP
Seventeen years old. Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer (16 years, 361 days). Winner at Newcastle. Future superstar. Don’t loan him. Let him earn his place.
The bottom line
Slot needs at least four or five new faces. A centre back. A midfielder. At least one winger with Salah gone. Maybe two.
But first? He’s got to shift the deadwood. Gomez. Endo. Chiesa. Ramsay on loan. Robertson already out the door.
This summer is make or break for the Dutchman. Get it wrong again, and Anfield will turn ugly. Fast.
