Liverpool's title defence hasn't gone exactly to plan and manager Arne Slot and his staff will be making decisions on the future of a number of players in January
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot may have work to do in the transfer market
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Liverpool were the Premier League's big spenders over the summer but that doesn't mean January will be quiet for Arne Slot and his staff. Despite making a flying start to the season, the reigning Premier League champions are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and uncertainty remains when it comes to his future beyond that point, while Alexander Isak is expected to be absent for at least two months after surgery on a leg fracture. Antoine Semenyo's name has been mentioned as a potential recruit, but the Bournemouth star - available for £65million - is understood to favour Manchester City.
At the end of the summer transfer window, Marc Guehi was desperately close to joining Liverpool but instead stayed at Crystal Palace. An Anfield switch is still possible, but it may have to wait until the end of the season when the England star's contract expires.
The attention may instead turn to outgoings, though not in the case of Harvey Elliott. The Aston Villa loanee is out of favour in the Midlands but cannot play for a third club in any of the big European leagues this season - thanks to his late substitute appearance for Liverpool against Newcastle in August - and a recall looks unlikely.
A few loan exits look like the most likely ports of call, with The Athletic reporting that as many as seven players could be allowed to spend the second half of the season elsewhere. However, even that could prove tricky.
Trey Nyoni
Nyoni, 18, has already shown he can hold his own against more experienced players with impressive pre-season performances. The midfielder also got his first taste of Premier League action in last weekend's win at Spurs after being an unused sub on seven occasions earlier this term.
He also started both of Liverpool's EFL Cup games, playing 90 minutes against both Southampton and Crystal Palace. Slot may be tempted to give him minutes against Barnsley in the FA Cup third round before sanctioning a loan, but may yet decide to keep him around.
Trey Nyoni in Liverpool training
Trey Nyoni has been given a taste of Premier League football(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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"This club is known for this. These players train with us on a daily basis and it is nice to see they showed they can play at this level," Slot said after handing Nyoni his first senior start last season. "Now the next step is to be capable of playing [regularly] for Liverpool."
Calvin Ramsay
Ramsay's Liverpool career has been a stop-start affair since he joined in 2022. Injuries and loans have meant he's played just three times for his parent club, and in normal circumstances a January move might look likely.
Calvin Ramsay in Liverpool training
Calvin Ramsay may be needed as defensive cover at Anfield
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This has been complicated, however, by injuries in Liverpool's back-line. Joe Gomez has been sidelined and Conor Bradley picked up a scare over the weekend, while centre-back Giovanni Leoni is a long-term absentee, so Ramsay has made matchday squads recently and Slot may feel he needs the Scot around.
Jayden Danns
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher identified Danns as one of the Reds' options as they aim to make up for the absence of Isak. The teenager has scored three times in nine senior appearances for the club but his only action this term came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Jayden Danns celebrating a goal for Liverpool against Accrington
Jayden Danns has scored for Liverpool's first team in the cups
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Injury has limited his involvement, with Danns not featuring since picking up a hamstring problem in September. He's closing in on a return, but Liverpool may feel he's better off recuperating with the Under-21s rather than being thrust right back into action.
Stefan Bajcetic
Another player with injury issues in his past, Bajcetic has sadly been unable to kick on since bursting onto the scene as a teenager. He had two loan spells last term, but a Salzburg stint didn't go as planned and he ended the season facing relegation from La Liga with Las Palmas.
Stefan Bajcetic in action for Las Palmas
Stefan Bajcetic finished last season on loan at Las Palmas
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The Spain Under-21 star picked up an injury towards the end of that spell in his homeland and has yet to feature this term after undergoing hamstring surgery. The Athletic report that he won't be rushed out as he looks to play himself into form in the new year, but a move could yet happen.
Will Wright
Liverpool fought off competition from Premier League rivals to sign Salford prospect Wright in August. The striker doesn't turn 18 until New Year's Day but had already played senior football for Salford before the Reds moved with a 'significant' bid thought to have been worth a six-figure sum.
Will Wright replacing Florian Wirtz in a pre-season friendly
Will Wright featured for Liverpool in pre-season
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He played a handful of games for the Reds' age group sides in August and September but injury has kept him on the sidelines ever since. It's a similar situation to that facing Danns, and Liverpool will have a decision to make once they have more of a handle on the progress of his recovery.
Trent Kone-Doherty
Irish winger Kone-Doherty arrived with a lofty reputation when he joined Liverpool from Derry City in 2022. He had been made to wait for his debut, but was given minutes towards the end of the Carabao Cup exit against Crystal Palace in the autumn.
Trent Kone-Doherty in UEFA Youth League action
Trent Kone-Doherty in UEFA Youth League action
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The 19-year-old has impressed in the UEFA Youth League this season, scoring in victories over Eintracht Frankfurt and PSV Eindhoven. Unnamed clubs have reportedly been keeping an eye on his progress in that competition with a view to a loan swoop.
Rhys Williams
Williams has been unable to kick on since being thrown in at the deep end under Jurgen Klopp in the 2020/21 season. He was on loan at Morecambe last term, playing more games for the Shrimps than he has for any other club in his career after other loans were less successful.
Rhys Williams playing for Liverpool's Under-21s
Rhys Williams playing for Liverpool's Under-21s
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The centre-back is now 24 years old but has been starved of football this term, playing in the EFL Trophy but struggling for minutes elsewhere. There may be a market for him in January, though, depending on the needs of EFL clubs.
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