Liverpool has six players whose contracts are due to expire next summer, including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, with plenty of decisions to be made in the coming months
Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool beat Ipswich
Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool beat Ipswich(Image: Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool still has more work to do to reshape its roster moving forward in terms of transfers, but there are some big calls looming when it comes to contracts too.
Next summer, once this season finishes, there are five players whose deals are due to expire. "Already? I am just focusing on the present," Virgil van Dijk insisted when he was asked about his contract over the weekend. "There is nothing to report on that."
The Liverpool captain, though, is one of those who is likely to need to hold talks. At 35, he is showing no signs of slowing down or being unable to compete at the highest level, having started the season well alongside Jeremy Jacquet.
Alisson Becker has made no secret of the fact that he wants to end his career back in Brazil, while he could have joined Juventus this summer amid transfer interest from the Italian giant.
But he too is only tied down until the end of the current campaign. Like Van Dijk, he is still operating at a high level.
Even with a deal agreed to bring in the 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans from Genk, and with Giorgi Mamardashvili on Liverpool's books as well, there is no reason to be looking beyond the Brazilian yet.
Jeremy Jacquet and Alisson celebrate after Liverpool's win over Bournemouth
Jeremy Jacquet and Alisson celebrate after Liverpool's win over Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo are also only under contract until 2027.
Gomez has picked up a lot of injuries, but he is homegrown and vastly experienced. There is an argument for handing Liverpool's longest-serving player an extension.
Tsimikas has struggled since coming back from a loan with Roma, but he is currently the backup to Milos Kerkez. Luke Chambers, the youngster who impressed during pre-season, might hope to overtake him in the pecking order.
But Endo is likely to move on. The Japanese midfielder has never managed to get a regular place in the team.
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If he does play this season, it is likely to be because he needs to fill in either at center-back or right-back, where the Liverpool roster is lacking depth.
Harvey Elliott, who is on loan at Valencia, is tied down until 2028. So too are Federico Chiesa, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha, though the latter will be given an extension.
Liverpool.com says: Alisson and Van Dijk should both get new deals. If they are prepared to sign a one-year rolling contract, they could go on for another couple of seasons yet at least.