Is Jurgen Klopp eyeing up a squad overhaul at Anfield this summer?

Eventually missing out on the chance to defend their Premier League crown last season thanks to a one-point deficit, Liverpool are in the midst of what has been a hugely concerning campaign at Anfield.

Opening their Champions League knockout stage adventure with a nightmare collapse on home soil as they slumped to a 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid on February 21st, Jurgen Klopp faces his toughest spell on Merseyside.

Opening March priced as high as 9/4 to claim an essential top-four finish come May, the English heavyweights have continued to struggle with their consistency on either side of the World Cup’s winter break.

Knowing they’re more than likely to end the 2022/23 campaign without a single piece of silverware, Liverpool are a mile off mounting another genuine title charge.

Facing what looks set to be a crucial summer transfer window, Klopp has plenty of questions that need answering over the coming months.

 

No Champions League, no Salah?

With many around Anfield left disappointed last summer as it was announced that attacking talisman Sadio Mane would be making the move to German giants Bayern Munich, Liverpool fans will be fearing that they face a similar crisis in 2023.

Although there might have been previous speculation that Mohamed Salah could be on his way out of the Anfield exit, the one-time Chelsea starlet once again finds his contract ticking away.

Entering the final 18 months of his current deal on Merseyside this summer, Salah has made it clear that his priority is to play Champions League football next season.

Suffering an infamous Champions League collapse in their first-leg meeting against Los Blancos on February 21st as they slumped to a 5-2 loss, Klopp’s side are now priced as high as 25/1 to extend on their European adventure.

With no signs of a contract extension on the horizon and with Liverpool facing the looming possibility that Salah could end his record-breaking tenure on Merseyside, Klopp knows how difficult it will be to replace the 30-year-old.

 

A midfield overhaul at Anfield

Although Liverpool might have forked out £89million last summer as they welcomed Darwin Nunez to Anfield, it is no secret that Klopp is desperate for a midfield overhaul ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

While the former Borussia Dortmund boss might have been reliant on the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara during his tenure in charge, Liverpool’s aging midfield has been a huge cause for concern.

Showing a string of issues in the middle of the park and once again passing on the chance to sign a permanent central midfielder during the January transfer window, many are expecting a blockbuster summer on Merseyside.

With it looking like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin and Naby Keita will be allowed to leave Anfield on a free transfer come the end of the season, Klopp has placed Jude Bellingham at the top of his wishlist.

Enjoying what has been a stunning rise to superstardom since arriving at Borussia Dortmund back in Liverpool are currently leading the chase to snap up Bellingham’s signature and are priced at 2/1.

 

A new leader at the back

With Liverpool ending their 30-year wait to lift a Premier League crown back in 2020, a huge part of Klopp’s success was thanks to his side’s defensive resolve.

However, with Virgil van Dijk failing to find top gear after dealing with another long-term injury issue this season, the former champions have often come under scrutiny for their issues at the back.

With homegrown superstar Trent Alexander-Arnold enduring what has quickly become a public nightmare at Anfield, the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have failed to offer any kind of stability.

As some suggest that Matip could be one of the players facing the chop from Klopp’s squad this summer, a new central defender should be one of the 55-year-old’s top priorities this year.

With their 5-2 Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid only underlining Liverpool’s glaring defensive problems this season, Klopp could be willing to allow a host of defensive options to leave this summer.

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