Anfield almost certainly bade farewell on Monday evening with the future of five players called into question
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Football has always had its fair share of amateur experts. From the tactics man shouting instructions from the stands to the wannabe physio assessing injuries before players have even left the field, there are those who fancy themselves as a respected voice on certain matters.
A new strand, though, has in recent years appeared thanks to the relentless, almost forensic scrutiny of the top level. That of the body language specialist.
To be fair, it's a claim of which most of us have been guilty at some time. And there was further evidence of that on Monday during Liverpool's friendly double-header against Athletic Bilbao.
The first encounter drew the greater attention, given the starting line-up was primarily occupied by fringe players and those whose Anfield futures have been called into question in recent weeks.
And the reactions of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott in particular prompted speculation over their respective futures.
Certainly, Elliott appeared emotional when, after the final whistle, he made a point of applauding all four stands while patting the club badge, repeating his response to scoring Liverpool's third goal in their eventual 4-1 triumph.
While his stock should be high after helping England to a second successive UEFA European Under-21 Championship earlier in the summer, Elliott's first-team opportunities under Arne Slot have been hampered further by the arrival of club record £116million signing Florian Wirtz, who starred in Monday's second friendly.
Elliott has been deemed a number 10 by Slot and featured there against Bilbao. But he failed to start a Premier League game in the position last season until after the title was won having played second fiddle to Dominik Szoboszlai and, on occasion, Curtis Jones. Wirtz has nudged Elliott a little further down that pecking order.
Few would be surprised if the 22-year-old departs during the remainder of the transfer window. And with fierce competition for the bench expected for the Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth on Saturday week, it could be Elliott was making his final appearance at Anfield as a Liverpool player, even if reported interest from a number of clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete bid.
The same, too, can be said of Nunez. Having earlier scored Liverpool's second, he made a point of acknowledging the warm support from all sections of the stadium as he left the field when substituted in the second half.
AC Milan and Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are the two chief suitors of the Uruguayan. And the signing of Hugo Ekitike and strong pursuit of Alexander Isak have made it clear Nunez will not be a regular starter ahead of next summer's World Cup for which his country are one point away from qualifying.
No expertise was required to determine the absent Tyler Morton is heading for pastures new, with the midfielder completing the formalities of his £15m move to French side Lyon.
More departures are likely. The goalscorer of Liverpool's third goal in the opening friendly, 19-year-old winger Ben Doak, is attracting strong interest from Premier League duo Wolves and West Ham United having earlier in the year been courted by Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Everton.
Much was read into the fact Kostas Tsimikas, who started at left-back, echoed the Instagram posts of Nunez and Elliott by posting a heart emoji along with a picture of him in action from the game, not least given Liverpool have a surfeit of options in his preferred position. In the evening's second game, arguably only Federico Chiesa has an immediately uncertain future.
Regardless, Anfield most likely bade at least one farewell on Monday evening. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Nat Phillips, Jarell Quansah, Luis Diaz and no Morton may have already gone. But the leaving of Liverpool is far from over this summer.