We asked for your burning questions on the goings on at Anfield, and our Liverpool correspondents Ian Doyle and Paul Gorst have provided the answers
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Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo of Liverpool
Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo of Liverpool(Image: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates /Getty Images)
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The season goes on. And while it hasn't panned out quite as supporters would have hoped so far, Arne Slot's side still have plenty to play for between now and the end of May.
Champions League qualification may be the priority but the Reds will be keen on making inroads in this campaign's competition while also progressing in the FA Cup, with a fourth-round clash at home to Brighton to come at the weekend.
We have been asking for your questions on the current state of play at Anfield, and here we take a punt at providing some answers...
Ross LFC asks: Do you think Liverpool will sign a senior centre-back in the summer?
Ian: Well, they already have in Jeremy Jacquet. He might only be a 20-year-old but you don't pay £60million for a player and not regard him as a senior. Same with Giovanni Leoni last summer.
The answer perhaps depends on what happens with Ibrahima Konate's contract talks. If a new deal is agreed, then Liverpool will have sufficient numbers at centre-back and will have three committed for the long-term. If Konate leaves, though, then the Reds will definitely need at least defensive reinforcement.
The difference with Joe Gomez perhaps is that if Liverpool are in a position where the player wants to leave in the summer, that almost certainly won't happen unless a replacement is already sourced.
Mickael asks: Can we expect a new big summer for 2026 after such a difficult season (and the holes in the squad - centre-back, number six, wingers)?
Ian: There certainly won't be the amount of money spent as last summer, that's for sure. And a big chunk of their transfer kitty has already been spent on Jeremy Jacquet.
The business will largely depend on who leaves, although it's clear Arne Slot would prefer additions as well as replacements. If Andy Robertson doesn't sign a new deal and Kostas Tsimikas opts to pursue an exit, that leaves Liverpool in need of a left-back. The centre-back situation we've addressed in answer to the previous question. And a new winger could ultimately be down to whether Mohamed Salah departs.
The interesting position is in defensive midfield. There continue to be rumours of Alexis Mac Allister being of interest to Real Madrid while Wataru Endo didn't get much of a look-in before his injury. And with Slot having referenced on Friday the lack of cover in the position, I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool looked long and hard at a major number six arrival. They may need more than one.
Thomas asks: What's going on with Curtis Jones? Do you think he could leave?
Paul: Curtis Jones's situation is a really interesting one right now and I actually asked Arne Slot about it directly on Friday, which will be available to read from 10.30pm onwards - keep an eye out for that on the ECHO's pages.
The direct contact from Inter, late in the transfer window last month, was something that took many by surprise, but there has also been interest from Tottenham Hotspur, which might have subsided somewhat since they signed Conor Gallagher, and obviously there has also been a sacking in the manager's seat since then, with Thomas Frank relieved of his duties earlier this week.
From what Slot said recently when asked, it sounds as though Jones is determined to feature more and he was picked for six games in a row recently and performed well in my opinion, but he will be entering the last 12 months of his deal this summer and with clubs contacting Liverpool over the status of their homegrown midfielder, it suggests there has been some encouragement privately.
I think in an ideal world Jones would love to stay at Liverpool and start every week but there are now five players jostling for three midfield positions at Anfield with Jones joined by Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and now Florian Wirtz. Wataru Endo, with respect, is viewed as less likely to compete for Premier League minutes on a more consistent basis.
This summer will be fascinating. Liverpool will either have to get this new deal tied down or cut bait and look to move him on. It'd be hugely disappointing to see a Liverpool-born, first-team midfielder sold but that's just my personal perspective. It's going to be interesting.
Phil Nugent asks: Why is Cody Gakpo a 100% starter?
Ian: The amount of abuse Cody Gakpo receives online from some so-called supporters borders on the disgraceful. He's not had the best season but he's not alone in that, and it appears a group of fans think the Dutchman is only being picked because he was born in the same country as his manager, which is patently ridiculous.
It's been easy to forget how important Gakpo was last season and the amount of key goals he contributed in helping Liverpool win the title.
Gakpo, though, has suffered this term from there being little competition for his place on the left wing, with Rio Ngumoha not yet ready, Federico Chiesa unable to make an impact when starting and the forward line missing at various times Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Dominik Szoboszlai is free from covering at right-back and returns to a midfield role. If Florian Wirtz plays wide left that could push Gakpo out of the team, but even then he also offers a rotation to Hugo Ekitike down the centre of the attack with the Frenchman having looked tired of late beyond the hour-mark of matches.
So, why does Gakpo start? Because he's versatile, he's proven and Slot trusts him. And, on some occasions, there just hasn't been anyone else.
Chris Slater asks: A worrying lack of time on the pitch for the young lads coming or that have been through the system this season - why is that so much less than previous seasons when we have been crying out for legs and enthusiasm recently both of which are evident in the young players?
Ian: Bringing youngsters through can by cyclical. Academies can have a strong period and then a time when not many players are coming through, and Liverpool appear in the latter stages at present. You can look at their near neighbours Manchester City, United and Everton - who are all competing for the same local players - and the same can be said of them.
It's worth bearing in mind that most of the players who made a breakthrough in recent times - Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas spring immediately to mind - have either been injured or out on loan, so couldn't be used anyway.
There's also the fact Liverpool's standing as one of the best team's in Europe makes it more difficult for Academy players to progress. But even before then, to get one player from the youth set-up to be a regular in the senior matchday squad would be considered a result.
Teenage duo Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni have been part of the first-team squad all season but Arne Slot was wise not to expose them to the horrors of the autumn. That would have been of little benefit to either player.
But the small squad has left them both in that limbo of not quite being ready to feature regularly for the first team, but needed for bench duty and therefore unable to get action with the under-21s for the most part. They both need to be playing more football.
And as for those who regard Calvin Ramsay as being young - the right-back is only a few months younger than Florian Wirtz. Ramsay cannot be regarded as an Academy player.
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