2 weeks Ago By Charlie Gordon
Liverpool have a rock-solid foundation to build on for next season. Arne Slot has moulded them into a title-winning side this campaign, and two of the three key men who were at risk of running down their contracts - Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk - have now committed their futures to Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold may be off to Real Madrid , but the Reds have cash to burn and confidence in their manager ahead of what promises to be a busy summer transfer window.
Here, Express Sport takes you through what Liverpool 's XI could look like by the start of 2025/26...
Goalkeeper: Alisson There is a huge amount of uncertainty around what Liverpool 's goalkeeper ranks will look like come the start of next season. Giorgi Mamardashvili is due to arrive after signing from Valencia last summer, and he is too good a stopper to be collecting dust on the bench. There is also the issue of Caoimhin Kelleher, who will surely leave if Mamardashvili joins up with the squad as planned.
But the simple fact is that if Alisson remains on Merseyside, he will be Slot's No. 1 regardless of who plays back-up. Defence: Frimpong , Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez Both full-back positions are set for major surgery this summer.
With Alexander-Arnold seemingly bound for Madrid, Jeremie Frimpong is one of the right-backs in contention to replace him. The Bayer Leverkusen star reportedly has a £34million release clause in his contract, although he wouldn't necessarily come in as a guaranteed starter, given he'd have Conor Bradley for company. Liverpool have also been heavily linked with £40m-rated Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez as a replacement for 31-year-old Andrew Robertson.
The Reds hold an interest in Kerkez's Cherries team-mate Dean Huijsen too, but Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are still a top-class centre-back partnership. Defensive midfield: Gravenberch, Mac Allister The saying goes that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with Liverpool 's defensive midfield pairing. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have both been top class this season, and there is zero chance of either one being replaced in the summer.
Attacking midfield: Salah, Szoboszlai, Gordon Salah and Szoboszlai are also set to retain their places in the side - Salah due to his immense output in terms of goals and assists, and Szoboszlai due to the tremendous energy he brings high up the pitch. Work could be done on the left, however. It would be no surprise to see Luis Diaz leave the club, and while Cody Gakpo is a more than capable replacement, this summer could be the ideal time for Liverpool to try their luck at signing Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, who has flirted with a move to Anfield in the past.
Striker: Ekitike Darwin Nunez has not cut the mustard at Liverpool , and although Diogo Jota is a sharp finisher, he is not the right calibre of player to be competing with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, who could both be playing Premier League football next season. Alexander Isak is the striker everyone wants, but with Newcastle sure to demand an enormous transfer fee, teams have been scouring the market for the next best thing. Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike could be exactly that.
He has scored 14 Bundesliga goals and laid on five assists this term, and although he is no bargain at £86m , the 22-year-old does fall within Liverpool 's price range..
