Darwin Nunez in, Fabinho out? The Liverpool players who need to stay & go

Sam McGuire

• Updated: 15 Mar 2023 16:06 GMT
• 7 min read

Liverpool were two positive results away from a historic quadruple last season.

The Reds claimed both domestic cups, but missed out on the Premier League title by a single point before losing 1-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Though the Community Shield is nothing more than a glorified friendly, Liverpool looked a class above Manchester City in the 2022/23 curtain-raiser and many felt it was a sign of things to come this year.

It was something of a false dawn though.

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Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to retain their trophies from last season, look like outsiders to claim a top-four spot and were knocked out of the Champions League in the round-of-16 after a monumental collapse at Anfield against Real Madrid in the first leg.

Everything is geared towards a summer of change on Merseyside with Liverpool expected to address the midfield situation. Recent reports have also linked the Reds with central defensive reinforcements while there is a feeling that a new second-choice goalkeeper will be required in the near future.

Couple that with the fact the Reds are set to lose Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Roberto Firmino on free transfers this summer and it is easy to understand why many believe there is going to be a significant overhaul at Anfield once this campaign comes to a close.

If you are going to commit to such a high turnover ahead of what will no doubt be a transitional season, you might as well properly embrace it. With this in a mind, a look at what else might happen this summer.

Players Liverpool need to sell

Nathaniel Phillips - In truth, the soon-to-be 26-year-old should’ve been sold during the 2021 summer transfer window. The centre-back helped Liverpool qualify for the Champions League despite their injury crisis in defence and his stock was never higher. A permanent move away seems to always be on the cards but it never truly materialises. In January, injuries stopped him from moving and he’s once again fifth-choice now that everyone has returned.

His current deal expires in 2025 and this is perhaps the last time the Reds can get good money for the no-nonsense centre-back. He’s more than earned the move away.

Caoimhin Kelleher - This move would be more for his sake. He is too good to be second choice, especially when he isn’t even guaranteed to get cup games. The 24-year-old has aspirations of being a starter of the Republic of Ireland and for that to happen, he needs to be a starter at club level. Kelleher has a long contract at Liverpool so could fetch a fair amount and this would go some way to funding a rebuild.

Joel Matip - Liverpool need to add more reliable centre-backs to their squad so sacrifices will have to be made. With Matip’s deal up in 2024, it makes the most sense to look to manoeuvre him out of the door a year earlier. It might be different had his performances been consistent this term but he’s struggled for both form and fitness. He would’ve commanded a huge fee a few years back but at 31 he could still fetch a fair transfer fee.

Kostas Tsimikas - In many ways, his situation is similar to that of Kelleher’s. He’s too good to be a back-up and Liverpool aren’t flush enough to have a €25million-rated left-back on their bench. He gets first-team football and the Reds get to add to their transfer kitty. It could be a win-win situation.

Players Liverpool need to keep

Alisson Becker- Without him between the sticks, things would be a lot worse for Liverpool this season. He has, at times, single-handedly kept them in the race for a top-four finish and the club cannot lose him. Alisson is a genuine difference-maker and will continue to be so for the next five years.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - The right-back is due a contract extension soon and though some have questioned his attitude this season, it would be a disaster to see a homegrown talent leave the club when he’s one of the best in the world in his position. Once the Reds stop fiddling around with their shape and allow the No.66 to play his natural game again, everyone will remember just how influential he is.

Darwin Nunez - Somehow, he is going under the radar despite being one of the signings of the season. He’s scoring goals, creating chances and generally being a nuisance in what is his debut campaign in England. The former Benfica man is only going to improve in a more settled system.

Mohamed Salah - With the team expected to go through transition while bedding in multiple new players, you need some consistency and Salah is about as reliable as they come as a goalscorer. Yes, he misses opportunities but he’s good for 20 per season and those players are priceless.

Ibrahima Konate - The Frenchman has been a revelation since signing from RB Leipzig. In a number of games, he has actually been Liverpool’s best defender, even with Virgil Van Dijk on the pitch. Injuries have disrupted his second campaign with the club but, if over them, he’s one of the most important players at Klopp’s disposal.

Playing for their futures

Sepp Van Den Berg - The Dutch centre-back impressed while on loan at Preston and seemed to be doing a decent job with Schalke prior to his injury. Now 21, he’s likely at the crossroads stage of his career. He could slide into the role of fifth-choice centre-back if Phillips does leave but there’s also every chance the Reds look to cash in on the highly-rated defender before he stagnates.

Curtis Jones - Jones looked to be the real deal during the 2020/21 season. He was playing a lot of football due to the number of injuries to midfielders and he impressed. Since then, however, he’s been on the periphery. Injuries have halted his progress and he’s not really kicked on after that breakout season. With midfielders expected to be signed, he might fall further down the pecking order unless he can turn things around.

Fabinho - The Brazilian midfielder has had a difficult 2022/23 campaign. Though his performances have picked up a little over recent weeks, it is too early to say whether or not he’s back at previous levels or whether this is purely a purple patch. Liverpool aren’t in a position to have one of their highest earners out of form and on the bench of long periods of time.

Joe Gomez - Another who has seen his Liverpool career disrupted by injuries. He put in a Man of the Match performance against Manchester City earlier in the season and it did appear as though he might be back to his pre-injury best, but that showing was an outlier. Gomez has struggled when given the opportunity at centre-back and there’s only so long you can overlook inconsistencies after an injury. Sooner or later, a decision is going to have to be made on what sort of player he is for this team.

Players who must be phased out over the next year

Jordan Henderson - Henderson’s minutes have been managed over recent weeks and this coincides with him putting in two of his best showings. Though the sample size isn’t the largest, that alone should suggest maybe he can’t play every single game now and perhaps Klopp should start to use his 32-year-old captain a little more sparingly.

Thiago - His contract is up at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and the feeling is it won’t be renewed. If this is the case, it makes sense to start to use him a little more intelligently. Instead of making him a key cog in the functionality of the season, have him be a difference-maker. It might be a little easier next season if the midfield department has been reinforced because right now the overreliance on the Spanish playmaker makes zero sense when he’s so susceptible to injuries.