There’s little doubt, surely, that Liverpool have been the Premier League’s best team this season.
They are, after all, 25 points clear at the top of the table and on the verge – when or if the campaign resumed – of being crowned champions for the first time in 30 years.
(Which everybody knows, because it’s all anybody has been talking about for the past few weeks.)
But it hasn’t been a faultless campaign for the Reds, so could they be made even better if Jurgen Klopp turns up the ruthless factor?
The German is very loyal to his players, and Liverpool’s first-XI is one of the easiest to guess in the English top flight.
But, as we always see in the second half of the season, form can come and go, teams need to be tinkered with and players rotated through injury and fatigue – and that’s before we even think about the transfer window.
And even Reds favourite Mohamed Sissoko reckons Sadio Mane could possibly leave the club in the summer.
Liverpool have been fairly quiet on that front recently and, after a year of signing just two senior players – Adrian and Takumi Minamino, the Merseysiders are expected to be busier.
Brighton CEO Paul Barber says the Premier League is ‘100 per cent’ committed to finishing the season
And, let’s face it, Klopp has now got plenty of time to think about and decide where he wants to strengthen the team, the players he wants and the players he doesn’t.
So, how could the Premier League champions-elect look next season if the manager cracks up his ruthless side? talkSPORT.com have taken a look…
Goalkeeper – No changes
Alisson Becker is surely going nowhere. He’s safe. Quite literally. The Brazilian glovesman is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and his long-overdue arrival has helped transform Liverpool into champions. He’s indispensible.
There’s an argument that could be had for getting a more reliable No.2 than Adrian, though, especially after recent errors, including a high profile one against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Defence – Centre-back upgrade?
There’s also very little doubt on Liverpool’s back-four.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are probably the best full-back combo in the league, although it’s clear Liverpool need back up in both positions.
If one of their starters suffered a serious injury, Nathanial Clyne is the other senior full-back in the squad. Youngster Neco Williams could be called upon or Mr Reliable James Milner could of course fill in, but that’s not ideal going forward.
Virgil van Dijk’s place in rock solid, no problems there, and it’s clear that when fit Joe Gomez is Klopp’s no.1 choice for the man alongside him.
Gomez is not the finished article yet, but definitely has shown more than a glimpse of his quality and promises to be a key player for the Reds. Klopp could look to sign a world-class centre-back to partner Big Virg, though, which could see Gomez take more of a back seat and help Liverpool just take that extra step in being regular competitors at the top.
Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez, 25, and Dayot Upamecano, 21, of RB Liepzig have been linked with moves to Anfield, and both would be a readymade additions to the squad and would automatically improve their back-four.
Midfield – New creative spark?
The midfield is probably the least of Jurgen Klopp’s problems. The Reds have got plenty of quality and ample options in the centre of the part, with Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho favoured as his starting trio, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, James Milner and Adam Lallana provide a decent amount of cover.
Klopp’s current system depends on his midfielders being athletes, quick to close down, win the ball back and link up with the front-three.
But some could argue that while there is plenty of strength, stamina and technique, there is a current lack of a creative spark – which has perhaps been missing since the departure of Philippe Coutinho.
And with Fabinho’s form dropping dramatically in the second-half of this season, Keita struggling to make an impact since his arrival from Leipzig and Wijnaldum out of contract next year, could Klopp ring in the changes?
The Reds have been linked with a number of players who could bring some attacking flair to the side, including Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, the 20-year-old German playmaker showing incredible promise in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool have also been linked with an interest in 23-year-old Spaniard Fabian Ruiz, the Napoli midfielder they were supposedly eyeing last year, whose versatility would be a huge asset for Klopp. Ruiz is usually played as a ‘No.8’ in central midfield, but he has been played in the No.10 role for the Italian side too.
Attack – New goal threat?
Looking at Liverpool’s front-three, it’s hard to see how any of them could be budged out of the team.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been the Reds’ main providers of goals for two seasons running, and Roberto Firmino holds their partnership together.
But, there has often been the suggestion Klopp is missing a world-class frontman, so is there another solution to keep the holy trinity together while also bringing in extra firepower?
Timo Werner would certainly do that. The German striker has been linked with a possible move to Anfield for months, although it has been claimed the coronavirus crisis could put the move in jeopardy.
Firmino often occupies a ‘false nine’ position rather than being an out-and-out frontman, so why not push the Brazilian into a attacking midfield role and bring a lethal finisher like Werner in? Strikers can win you titles, just ask Man United and Robin van Persie, so it could be the thing that helps the Reds maintain their dominance.
Then, of course, there’s Jadon Sancho, with Liverpool reportedly in the queue of top clubs competing to sign the English winger from Borussia Dortmund.
There have been rumblings the Reds could cash in for the right offer if Real Madrid or Barcelona came after either Salah or Mane, and Sancho would be an ideal replacement, with an already impressive goal and assist record and years ahead of him to soar to even greater heights.
