Liverpool may be on the march towards a 20th English top-flight title and only a second-ever Premier League crown under Arne Slot, but everything isn't positive on Merseyside. Despite the strong position the Reds find themselves in, supporters may not be in the mood to celebrate when the dust settles.
This is due to the club's poor handling of the contract situations of three of the biggest stars at Anfield. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all played key roles in any success the English giants have had since Jurgen Klopp's reign at the club began. However, all three men could be allowed to walk out of the door for free this summer.
With the very public nature of the contract situation, any Liverpool fan in their right mind would be starting to worry that there's a possibility that none of the trio renew their terms. It would be disastrous for Slot heading into his second season without his current captain, vice-captain and best player. With a massive rebuild waiting for the club's management, we've put together an XI that the Reds could realistically field next term.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Guehi, Milos Kerkez
Despite the pending arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, no one expects Alisson Becker to be unseated in between the sticks at Anfield quite yet. The Brazilian still sits at the top of the tree as the best goalkeeper the Premier League has to offer, and that won't change as long as he's around.
The majority of the reshuffle this summer would take place in the backline, especially if Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold were both to depart. Jeremie Frimpong has been seen as one of the top right-backs in world football for a couple of years now, and he appears the most likely candidate to try and replicate the attacking output of Alexander-Arnold.
Slot has a strong core of Dutch players, who could help to convince the ex-Manchester City youngster to leave Bayer Leverkusen in search of a new challenge. According to Sport Bild, the full-back has been in 'regular contact' with Slot in recent months.
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Ibrahima Konate could be forced to step up as the main man at the heart of the defence with Van Dijk's absence leaving a gaping hole. Marc Guehi's representatives have been contacted by the Reds in the past week at the time of writing and the England international could be the Dutchman's replacement. Those are big shoes to fill for anyone.
Andy Robertson could be kept around for experience with other valuable members exiting, but the Scotland international isn't expected to be the starting left-back after this campaign. Milos Kerkez - in many ways, a younger version of Robertson - is 'loved' by Anfield bosses, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Midfielders
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
After being turned down by Martin Zubimendi in the previous summer window, Slot decided to stick to what he had in the engine room and that decision has paid off massively. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are among the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Gravenberch and Mac Allister bring the technical ability of seasoned veterans and Szoboszlai provides the work rate of two players. The trio have worked together incredibly. Signs of fatigue have crept in recently as Curtis Jones is the only rotational option Slot appears to trust. Reinforcements may be added to the squad, but it's hard to imagine this won't be the starting three next season.
Forwards
Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez, Cody Gakpo
The forward line already looks like it will need improving, even before considering the talisman could leave for nothing. Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have all been linked with moves away from the club in the summer, but it's hard to see all three leaving on top of Salah.
Diaz has thrived the most out of the three under Slot and could even be asked to show his versatility once again and put in a shift on the right flank. Alexander Isak feels like a pipedream with all the other additions that will be required. Cody Gakpo will continue as the starting left-winger.
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Another expensive - but exciting - option that has surfaced in recent days is Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. The 2022 World Cup winner was admired by Liverpool last summer when he left Manchester City, but dealing with another Premier League club proved difficult. Could the Reds return to the table for the 23-goal forward to replace Salah's output?
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 18-03-25.