Reds set for huge cash injection, and will need to replace their superstar forward…
SEE ALSO: The Best Liverpool goals.
Luis Suarez looks all set to wrap up an £80m move to Barcelona in the coming days, and while the Reds, having already spent nearly £40m on Emre Can, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana – they’re likely to invest the rest of the money and some on getting the squad ready for Champions League football next term.
Here’s how they could start next season if they pick up their reported targets.
GK) Simon Mignolet
The Belgian keeper is likely to retain the no.1 jersey, although Guillermo Ochoa could arrive on a free transfer, having run his contract down at Ajaccio and impressed massively with Mexico at the World Cup.
DR) Glen Johnson
Jon Flanagan will likely compete for this spot too, although Johnson’s extra attacking edge may see him given the role at the start of the season, although the youngster could win it off him as the campaign progresses.
DC) Mamadou Sakho
Injuries affected Sakho’s debut season, but Rodgers is known to rate him highly, and will have been impressed by his showings at the World Cup so far this summer.
DC) Dejan Lovren
Liverpool have already had a £20m bid for Lovren rejected, but with the Croat demanding a move away from the club, it’s surely only a matter of time before he becomes the third Saint to move to Merseyside this summer.
DL) Filipe Luis
The Brazilian left-back has emerged as a target after his proposed move to Chelsea broke down, and as Atletico Madrid have already secured his replacement in Guilherme Siquiera, a £19m move to Liverpool could be on the cards.
MC) Steven Gerrard
The club captain will continue in the anchoring midfield role next season, although new signing Emre Can will provide ample backup from the bench.
MC) Jordan Henderson
Henderson’s work-rate in midfield is invaluable to Liverpool, and he’s one of the first names on Rodgers’ Reds team-sheet. The likes of Joe Allen and Lucas also provide rotation options alongside the club skipper – and new signing Lallana can also play in a more central midfield role.
AML) Raheem Sterling
Sterling’s performances towards the end of last season will surely earn him a spot on Rodgers’ starting XI next season. He’s still only a teenager, but his mesmeric dribbling ability, searing pace, and eye for the goal mean Lallana will have to wrestle this spot off him.
AMC) Xherdan Shaqiri
Bayern’s Swiss playmaker has an apparent straight choice between staying in Germany or moving to Anfield, and with the greater chance of first-team football available, and a likely lucrative wage, we think he’ll plump for the latter. Mercurial Brazilian Coutinho can also play this role with aplomb.
AMR) Alexis Sanchez
The Reds desperately want to include the Chilean 25-year-old as part of the deal that sees Suarez switching to Barcelona. Arsenal are also chasing him – with rumours that the player himself would rather join the London club. However, with Barcelona preferring the player to move to Liverpool to smooth the Suarez deal, Rodgers will likely get a chance to convince Sanchez to join.
FC) Daniel Sturridge
The goalscoring burden will weigh heavily on Sturridge with Suarez’s departure, but he has more than enough talent to embrace the challenge.
