Liverpool v Aston Villa: Jurgen Klopp press conference
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool starting XI may have looked drastically different against Aston Villa on Sunday if he had landed all of his top summer targets. Reds fans suffered several high-profile rejections over the course of the summer, with Klopp having to resort to back-up plans before getting the reinforcements needed. Here, Express Sport takes you how the side may have looked if the window went according to plan…
Goalkeeper: Alisson
Although an overhaul was needed in other parts of the squad, not much was expected to change between the sticks. There were murmurings early in the window that back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher may look to depart in search of game time, but the Republic of Ireland international stayed put at Anfield instead.
As has Alisson Becker – Liverpool’s 30-year-old Brazilian who has been virtually irreplaceable since signing from AS Roma in 2018. The sturdy stopper is now into his sixth season as Klopp’s first choice and he looks set to continue in that role for the foreseeable future.
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Defence: Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Colwill, Robertson
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson have been nailed-on members of Klopp’s back-four for what seems like an eternity. Ibrahima Konate has grown into a commanding presence alongside Van Dijk, but fresh competition was almost introduced at centre-back earlier in the summer.
Levi Colwill will have been well aware of Liverpool’s well-reported transfer interest. But with Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino promising a starting spot, the youngster called it an ‘easy decision’ to stay at Stamford Bridge and close the door on a possible move to Anfield.
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Midfield: Caicedo, Lavia, Amrabat
Liverpool have signed three midfielders in Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo, but they could have ended up with a completely different trio.
Undoubtedly the area of the pitch that saw the Reds suffer the most frustration, Sofyan Amrabat was the first to make his intentions clear, with reports suggesting that the Moroccan snubbed a Liverpool transfer approach to sign for Manchester United instead.
Then came the two-punch combination of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, with both players rejecting the Reds in favour of moves to Chelsea, totalling a combined £173million.
Attack: Diaz, Gakpo, Mbappe
Liverpool were one of the names in the mix when Paris Saint-Germain attempted to auction off Kylian Mbappe this summer. However, the 2022 World Cup final’s hat-trick hero has opted to stay in France and see out his contract.
Luis Diaz has been electric since returning to fitness, and may have had to shift over to the right to accommodate Mbappe, who is so devastating cutting in from the left. Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, is in a fierce fight with Darwin Nunez to start up top.
Selecting the attacking trio in question leaves no room for Mohamed Salah, who could now be unsettled after a mammoth bid from Al-Ittihad on deadline day.
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