I know people tend not to listen to what he says, but I do agree with @The-AllMightyReds in his interest in Brighton’s Hinshelwood, especially in a side going back to the higher energy approach. He’d be half the price of Anderson and on a good development path could very reasonably end up as the better player in a couple of years.
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Jones is criminally underrated and it would seem crazy to let him go. He’s got silky touch, can play with his head up, has a decent engine and solid passing which all means he can play anywhere across the middle and even RB. He should improve his shooting but I could see him combining beautifully with Flo and someone like Wharton or fillling in for them. Add in that he’s a local lad, still young but with loads of experience and - before this season - never seemed to create any controversy etc and he (and players like him) have got to be an essential part of building another successful liverpool side.
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CENTRE BACK
1st Choice
Jan Paul van Hecke, 25, Brighton
The most progressive centre back in Europe, van Hecke has steadily developed into an excellent Premier League defender. He rarely loses the ball, is used to playing a high-line and high-pressing team. van Hecke pairing with van Dijk would immediately be one of the best pairings in the Premier League and van Hecke shows signs of becoming an elite defender for the future. Although he doesn’t have the best aerial data he is a big, strong player and should be able to improve in this area.
Another Option
Joachim Andersen, 28, Fulham
Andersen has been talked about as a potential top-end CB for a few years but has never quite taken that step. However in the age of football turning into rugby the need for big, strong aerially competant defenders is at a peak. Andersen is a good passer, capable of carrying the ball and one of the best players in the air. At 28 he’s got experience but leaves the door open for the young CBs recently brought in.
RIGHT BACK
1st Choice
Neco Williams, 25, Nottingham Forest
Forest player of the year this season but might be available specifically for Liverpool. He was right to leave when he did, has become a Steve Finnan-esque defender that would add depth and versatility to both the RB and LB spots. With the injury record of Bradley and the inconsistency of Frimpong I think there is every chance he bcomes first choice RB.
Another Option
Brooke Norton-Cuffy, 22, Genoa
Closer to Frimpong than Bradley in that he is an attacking full back. Was close to a move to Inter Milan in January to replace Dumfries but fell through at the end of the window. Has elite carrying skills and, although he doesn’t make a lot of challenges, he has a very good success rate when he does.
CENTRE MIDFIELD
1st Choice
Elliot Anderson, 23, Nottingham Forest
Simply an elite midfielder. Defensively resolute, creative, advances possession, covers ground. He’s the next Declan Rice, possibly even better than him. Chances are Manchester City have this one wrapped up but if there is a chance I think we should go all out to get him.
Another Option
Adam Wharton, 22, Crystal Palace
Simply the best passer in Europe. No player can progress a team up the field quicker than Adam Wharton - and that is while playing ina system that doesn’t focus on progression. There is a good chance he would go crazy at a big club. He passes the eye-test for defensive work rate even if the data doesn’t back it up.
RIGHT WING
1st Choice
Francisco Conceicao, 23, Juventus
Salah leaving means we have just one recognized right winger, Chiesa, who may himself be on the way to Juventus again. Conceicao shows signs of being an elite player (although not an elite goalscorer). He’s a great dribbler, quality passer and contributes defensively.
Another Option
Ismaela Sarr, 28, Crystal Palace
It’s thin pickings for players who operate on the right wing at an elite level. Sarr represents a complete opposite to the skillset of Conceicao. A quality goalscorer from the wing could be ideal to profit from the improved work behind him.
LEFT WING
1st Choice
Yan Diomande, 19, RB Leipzig
Not an original thought but Diomande is already operating as one of the best wingers in the world at 19 years old. Not a weakness to speak of. Enough said.
Another Option
Abde Ezzalzouli, 24, Real Betis
Coming off a breakout year at Betis, Ezzalzouli is currently linked with Newcastle but I expect bigger names may get involved. Another player with high quality carrying and goal-scoring skills, could be a slightly better creator but still operating at a high level all across the board.
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@Sweeting when we give Hughes the heave-ho, you better be taking over!!
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There is an exercise you can do, where you write down our first choice team, and second choice team, and it’s easy to reach the conclusion to reach is that we’re in much better shape than is assumed.
However I just did this, and…
- Our first team RCB is Joe Gomez
- Our first team RW is Chiesa
- Our first team RB is Frimpong, and second choice is Endo
- Our second team LB is Kostas Tsimikas
- Our two second team deep lying Mids are Jones and Mac Allister, and there are doubts over both.
- We don’t have a second choice RW
- In the absence of Ekitike, our second choice FW is Jayden Danns.
- our second team AM is Harvey Elliott
- First choice LW is Gakpo, who I think is alright but you all seem to hate
The aim should be to have a second choice eleven (or at least the ten outfield players) that a not too far off the first team, and where you’d comfortable with any of them dropping in. And we are simply miles off that.
So while we have good players, and it’s a fair argument to suggest they can’t be much better than what Slot got out of them, it’s still a squad that is full of holes, those holes have got bigger in recent week with Konate gone and Jones looking likely to depart. And there might be holes about to appear that we just don’t know about yet (I have a sneaky feeling Szoboszlai might depart this summer)
We can’t do everything, and some compromises will be needed. With that in mind I think we go with Kostas at left back and just leave that position alone. I’m happy to see Elliott added to the attacking pool, primarily as an understudy for Wirtz, but also we know he can cover off the right, despite not being quick.
But we have to go big to make sure we can actually compete.
I’m not happy relying on Gomez as part of a CB pool. That’s just asking for trouble, and with Leoni likely to have setbacks as he returns from his ACL (they always do), and it being unfair to demand Van Dijk plays every minute of PL and CL football again, we have to get another CB. Gomez should be depth across the back line, especially as we are taking risks in both full back positions. Van Dijk should leave next summer, so it’s OK to carry three lads who will all have first choice aspirations. If we can get Van Hecke out of Brighton on a decent deal, that would be perfect.
At Right Back we need to forget about Bradley. He has never managed a run of games without injury. We just can’t rely on him to come back. Frimpong is a decent full back, but more suited to having space to run into. We need a solid option here, possibly a bit older and experienced.
We have to assume Jones is going and I think we can’t go into anti another year depending on Mac Allister. I’m actually fine with just buying one big player (like Wharton) to replace both, and use a combination of Nyoni, Bajcetic and McConnell as a fourth choice for the two deeper midfield positions.
I’m fine with Gakpo and Ngumoha on the left wing, but as the season progresses I’d like to see which one is first choice and which is second decisively flip in Ngumoha’s favour (Gakpo can then depart the following summer). But we need two on the right. There are strong links to Diomamde but I don’t think we can spend £100m on an exciting teenager who plays on the left wing. We’ve already got one. There have been loads of other links but the two I like are Rayan and Conceicao linked on Both PL ready, bother proven, both a good age and should be gettable.
Finally Isak will be expected to have a better season than last, but we need a second option. Ekitike should be considered a write off for the season. He won’t be back until February and then he needs match fitness. I think we’re looking for a one season back up. Someone who can can come in and deputise for Isak, while seeing it as nothing more than a one season deal. Might also be able to look at the loan market here?
CB: Van Hecke
RB: Dumphries
CM: Wharton
RW: Rayan
RW: Conceicao
FW: ???
Six players that I think represents the absolute bare minimum we can get away. Ideally we might want to upgrade Gakpo, buy another CM, look at a better LB than Tsimikas, buy a CF etc. But I think six good players in those positions gives us chance to compete.
Basically I don’t want to get into another situation where a manager ends up with one hand tied behind their back, trying to firefight solutions all over the place.
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I imagine we maybe have to be a little more conservative with money this season.
Schlotterbeck would be my first choice CB but I’d be fine with Hecke.
Wharton would surely cost an absolute fortune, I like him a lot but I like the look of Mamadou Sangare instead. Still very progressive but much more dynamic, stronger defensively, and if we’re going with Iraola think he suits him more. Surely cheaper too.
RW/LW would be between Diomande and Rayan. I think Rayan has a better all around game. Can play CF too. Obviously both very expensive though.
Fullback I’d go for Ryerson. Can play both sides with little issue.
Finally, I think I’d at least look at Harry Wilson on a free.
One thing is for sure is that we need more depth. I think the likes of Trey Nyoni and Kieran Morrison can get some game time which adds a couple of bodies. Bajcetic is more of a flyer but you never know if he has a good pre-season.
However I wouldn’t mind seeing a couple of “bodies” in just to handle the workload. The type of guys who can comfortably be used on a Wednesday night at home to MSK Zilina early in the Champions League.
I’m not tracking the squad registration and all that I find it boring but the likes of Harry Wilson can eat up a few minutes here and there and help with dispersing minutes. They don’t have to be world beaters.
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I wouldn’t mind Harry Wilson back as a squad option, without getting too much into squad registration, we do need more homegrown options in the squad.
It’s also why I like the call for bringing Neco Williams back too. He has done well at Forest, he could be a solid first choice at right back.
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Wasn’t part of the reason thst he moved, was that he was stuck behind Trent for that position?
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Yeah, at the time there was an assumption that Trent would be here for at least 10 years so he would never have a chance. He’s gone and made himself one of the best full backs in the league now.
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One of the best right backs? I’m not so sure
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Based on the season just gone I’d say Timber is better, James (when fit), Gusto, Munoz (was better in 2024/25 than this season but still…). I’m not putting anyone else above Williams. There are more talented players but they’re not playing better than him.
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I am still undecided on Scott. He can score and he dribbles quite well but he doesn´t seem to have much of a passing game.
A lot of passing it wide but not much interplay in midfield to get it forward. The kind of players who needs to dribble before he can pass it maybe.
With the idea of getting a few bodies in - could it finally be time for Captain America to come to Liverpool? 1 year left on his deal at AC Milan - identical goal creation stats as Vinicus Junior 
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Does he still miss a lot of games through injury?
Yeah he does. I’m only joking suggesting him, I think he’s been proven to be a level below what we want even coming off the bench.
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We do t traditionally have a good track record with recruiting players who have had one or two standout performances against us.
Pulisic’s AC Milan goal comes to mind, Minamino, I’m drawing a blank but there must be a few more after Michael Thomas.
Edit: Benteke (thanks @Obanite )
The only exception to my mind is Sadio Mané
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Benteke.
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Is Anderson definitely going to City? Was watching his performance vs Utd. very impressive.
I really like Wharton and think he´s a better and more clever passer, but Anderson has so much more drive in his game. Plays with tempo whereas Wharton coasts a bit and can pass it and just stand.
I think Anderson would be my first choice but I´d be happy if we get Wharton. I think we need one of them, for a range of reasons.