BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Tuesday, July 10, 2018: Liverpool's manager J¸rgen Klopp puts his finger to his lips before a preseason friendly match between Tranmere Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Prenton Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Liverpool FC: Building a squad for 2018/19 – debating the ins, outs and loans

Liverpool’s 2018/19 squad is looking strong, and with less a month of the transfer window left it looks to be a busy few weeks ahead.

Jurgen Klopp has added Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri so far, and is said to be targetting a goalkeeper and a ‘No.10’ – with Roma’s Alisson and Lyon’s Nabil Fekir seemingly the first-choice options for each.

Meanwhile, there is expected to be a host of departures either on loan or permanently, chief among them Harry Wilson, Danny Ings and Simon Mignolet.

We got the views of four This Is Anfield regulars, Matt Ladson, Karl Matchett, Jack Lusby and Chris Williams, on who they would sell, buy and loan this summer.

Note: We answered these last week, before developments on Alisson, and Wilson was loaned.

Which squad do you like best?

 

Matt

1. Who you buying?

Fekir – seemingly the ideal No.10
A centre-back – Mina, Lascelles or someone else who can upgrade on Matip and be less injury prone
A keeper – I’d pretty much take anyone; if Alisson & Oblak are ruled out then I’d be fine with Cillessen arriving. Obviously Alisson is the first choice.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Wednesday, June 27, 2018: Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Group E match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

2. Who you selling?

The obvious ones: Mignolet, Ings, Origi, Markovic, Chirivella, Randall, Allan

I’d also let Matip and Lallana go if the above players are signed. Neither would be needed, both are injury prone, sell while they have a re-sale value.

 

3. Who you loaning out?

Grujic, Kent, Ojo, Woodburn, Solanke, Karius

Karius needs some time away from the club and the spotlight, the rest will all struggle for playing time if they stayed.

 

4. What’s your squad?

Keepers: Alisson, Ward, Grabara

Defence: Clyne, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, new signing, Lovren, Van Dijk, Klavan, Robertson, Moreno

Midfield: Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fekir

Forwards: Salah, Firmino, Mane, Shaqiri, Wilson, Sturridge, Brewster

That gives us a pretty well balanced 26-man squad, well stocked in all the key areas.

CHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, July 7, 2018: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp speaks with players during a water break in the preseason friendly match between Chester FC and Liverpool FC at the Deva Stadium. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

 


Jack

1. Who you buying?

Alisson – Despite concerns over his World Cup form, he’s still the ideal No. 1.
Jamaal Lascelles – A dependable, homegrown centre-back, and a real leader.
Nabil Fekir – Like Alisson, there’s a reason he was identified as a key target.

 

2. Who you selling?

Mignolet, Ward, Randall, Chirivella, Markovic, Ings, Kent, Ojo, Origi

 

3. Who you loaning out?

Grujic, Woodburn, Allan, Awoniyi, Solanke

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Tuesday, July 10, 2018: Liverpool's Ben Woodburn during a preseason friendly match between Tranmere Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Prenton Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

 

4. What’s your squad?

Keepers: Alisson, Karius, Grabara

Defence: Van Dijk, Lovren, Matip, Lascelles, Gomez, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold, Clyne, Robertson, Moreno

Midfield: Keita, Fabinho, Fekir, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Lallana, Jones

Forwards: Firmino, Salah, Mane, Shaqiri, Sturridge, Brewster, Wilson

A solid senior squad with top-class options in every position, strong cover in key areas and, in Grabara, Jones, Brewster and Camacho, the best youngsters fleshing out the ranks.

 


Karl

1. Who you buying?

Guedes: Such a high ceiling, can play wide or as a No. 9 or even in a four-man midfield such as we’ve seen this summer.

Cillessen: Other than Jan Oblak, he’s the right choice for the Reds this summer.

De Ligt or Mina: A centre-back is an extra, not a necessity, but these would be my preference if any come in. Not bothered if they don’t this summer.

Young, powerful, technically good and aerially strong are the requirements—basically what we’ve all hoped Joe Gomez would be. Perhaps we don’t buy one and he does turn out to be this one in the end.

 

2. Who you selling?

BURY, ENGLAND - Saturday, July 14, 2018: Liverpool's Adam Lallana and James Milner as the team arrives before a preseason friendly match between Bury FC and Liverpool FC at Gigg Lane. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Lallana, Ings, Sturridge, Origi, Mignolet, Matip, Randall, Markovic, Allan

Sturridge is the only one there who has anything to offer the Reds with regularity going forward, but only if we regularly play a two in attack.

 

3. Who you loaning out?

Karius, Grujic, Woodburn, Ojo, Solanke, Wilson

We can’t just bin off Karius and he isn’t ready to be our first choice, so a loan to regain composure, self-belief and transfer value is the best bet.

 

4. What’s your squad?

Keepers: Cillessen, Ward.

Defence: Alexander-Arnold, Clyne, Robertson, Moreno, Van Dijk, Lovren, Gomez, Klavan

Midfield: Fabinho, Keita, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones

Forwards: Mane, Salah, Firmino, Shaqiri, Guedes

Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), NOVEMBER 4, 2017 - Football / Soccer : Spanish "La Liga Santander" match Valencia CF 3-0 CD Leganes at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Mutsu Kawamori/AFLO) [3604]

 


Chris

1. Who you buying?

Jan Oblak
Yerry Mina
Michael Cuisance
Ante Rebic

 

2. Who you selling?

Mignolet, Markovic, Allan, Ings, Sturridge, Klavan, Lallana

 

3. Who you loaning out?

Randall, Wilson, Kent, Grujic, Chirivella, Ojo, Awoniyi

 

4. What’s your squad?

MUNICH, GERMANY - Tuesday, August 1, 2017: Atlético de Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak during the Audi Cup 2017 match between Club S.S.C. Napoli and Atlético de Madrid at the Allianz Arena. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Keepers: Oblak, Karius, Ward

Defence: Alexander-Arnold, Clyne, Mina, Van Dijk, Gomez, Lovren, Moreno, Robertson

Midfield: Keita, Fabino, Winjaldum, Milner, Henderson, Cuisance, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Woodburn

Forwards: Firmino, Salah, Mane, Shaqiri, Rebic, Solanke, Origi

 


Overall

  • All 4 want to sign a keeper
  • 3 out of 4 still want to sign Fekir for the No.10
  • A centre-back would still be nice
  • 3 out of 4 would sell Lallana
  • 3 out of 4 would loan Woodburn

 


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