With Jurgen Klopp set to oversee his first summer transfer window as Liverpool boss, the German is likely to ring the changes to the squad he inherited from his predecessor Brendan Rodgers back in October.
Therefore, here are five players expected to depart the club during the offseason as the former Borussia Dortmund tactician begins to stamp his impression on the side.
Simon Mignolet
Although Mignolet recently signed a new five year contract in January, it appears that he is set to remain at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. However, despite all of the emphatic yet often unmerited praise from Klopp, Mignolet himself should not believe his place is safe. The Belgian’s form has been inconsistent to put it mildly, with Squawka reporting that he is joint highest in defensive mistakes (five) and top in goals resulting from these (three). Mignolet has also made the least saves per 90 minutes for any keeper in the Premier League with over 20 appearances this season.
With poor performances against the likes of Sunderland and Manchester United recently proving costly, Klopp must surely be tempted to explore the option of bringing someone in to provide better competition than that offered by Adam Bogdan. Bogdan has proved himself to be woefully out of his depth when called upon this season, and this lack of competitive pressure from within the Liverpool squad could be suggested as a reason why Mignolet has performed so erratically this season. Or maybe he too is out of his depth? Either way, any goalkeeping arrival could see Mignolet seek a move away (either on loan or permanently) that would allow him a fresh start away from the pressure and scrutiny at Anfield.
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Alberto Moreno
Moreno typifies the frustrations associated with a modern full back. Jamie Carragher once described them as either “a failed winger or a failed centre-back.” Cynically, it is clear which of these Moreno is. Whilst the Spaniard is certainly able to get up and support attacks, his defensive vulnerability is patently clear for all to see. He ‘switches off’ in the same way that Glen Johnson was often accused of, with the penalty he gave away against Norwich highlighting his poor decision making.
The fact that he has not played for Spain since 2014, despite being fast-tracked into the senior squad and narrowly missing out on selection for the World Cup, adds weight to the feeling that he has flopped since his move from Sevilla. A transfer back to Spain may appeal to both Moreno and Klopp, with the likes of Brad Smith, Joe Gomez, and the versatile Jon Flanagan waiting in the wings.
Martin Skrtel
Skrtel may well prove to be the man who suffers most from the impending arrival of Joel Matip. Next season would be his tenth at the club, and at his best he was a reliable and uncompromising stopper. However, he is beginning to show signs that his age is starting to catch up with him. His pace is certainly not what it was, and he is beginning to pick up more knocks and niggles associated due to his ageing body.
His partners Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho have both had their moments of unreliability, but as the oldest of the trio, he appears to be the most likely to see a reduction in his playing time. For someone with arguably at least another few years, if he can stay relatively fit, he may decide that this is the right time to seek pastures new and capitalise on probably his last opportunity for a comparable contract on terms similar to his current deal.
Lucas Leiva
Liverpool’s midfield is crowded in terms of numbers, but lacking in terms of real quality. Fans pine for the likes of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, and even Gary McAllister. What they have currently, before the arrival of Marko Grujic, is a number of players that are desperately trying to mask a lack of top class pedigree through perpetual endeavour. It is just not working. The likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson, whilst international players with great stamina, simply are not naturally blessed with the passing range of their illustrious predecessors.
Emre Can, while more cultured than his aforementioned colleagues, does not have the mobility to effectively boss a midfield with the dynamism of previously heralded midfield generals. With these three generally vying for two places in a full strength team, at least one of Lucas and Joe Allen would appear surplus to requirements. Despite the fact that Lucas has arguably performed above par since the arrival of Klopp, his lack of an expansive passing range and Joe Allen’s status as a younger home-grown player will probably tip the balance towards Lucas being the man to depart.
The Brazilian will likely have plenty of suitors in Spain, Italy, and probably China. However, this could all well swing towards Allen being the man to depart should Brendan Rodgers be offered the opportunity to re-sign the man he famously dubbed ‘The Welsh Xavi’ by any prospective new employer.
Christian Benteke
There is no way to politely dress this up. Christian Benteke’s move from Aston Villa has turned into what many people projected; a desperate failure that ranks alongside the signings of Andy Carroll and Mario Balotelli. The looming shadow of strikers past, especially those who have worn the Liverpool number nine, seems to weigh heavier on Benteke every time he takes to the field. It is obvious that Liverpool under Rodgers, and now Klopp, do not adopt a style of football that plays to his strengths. Tim Sherwood understood that to get the best out of the big Belgian was not hard.
As long as players are prepared to play the ball into areas where he could come on to it and attack it, namely by playing quickly from back to front as well as providing plenty of crosses, Benteke’s physicality would prove hard to handle. With Liverpool playing a much narrower and more intricate passing game, the doubters were right to assume that Benteke would struggle to adapt. This is supported by comparing his Villa strike rate (42 goal in 89 games) to his record so far at Liverpool (six goals in 20 games).
As such, Liverpool have to make a choice. Do they stick with a £30m investment that may never adapt to be effective in their style of play? Or do they cut their losses before his value plummets beyond all recognition, instead putting their belief in their physios being able to keep Daniel Sturbridge fit? In an element of potentially coincidental trivia, when Liverpool signed Andy Carroll in January 2011 as their new number nine they also signed another forward.
That controversial Uruguayan from Ajax turned out to be an exceptional acquisition, that at the time maybe went somewhat under the radar. The other striker signed at the same time as Liverpool’s current number nine, the promising Danny Ings, could well prove to be the justification as to why Benteke is allowed to part ways with his current employers.
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