My Liverpool Summer Plan: Coach Change and Four Signings
A supporter lays out a clear summer blueprint for Liverpool: a new manager, a small number of additions, and a shift towards more energy, balance and a stronger homegrown core.
If I was running Liverpool’s summer as director of football, I’d keep it fairly tight: change the manager, add four players, and avoid another huge rebuild. We brought in plenty last year, and even four new faces is a sizeable turnover if you are also moving a few on.
Manager: go for Iraola’s energy
The appointment I’d make is Iraola. For me he’s a high-energy, attacking coach who looks ready for the next level. It is a risk, but most options are, and I think he’s an underrated one who could make the ride a lot more enjoyable, and hopefully successful.
I don’t think the squad is miles away. It feels a bit imbalanced, but the bigger issues this season have been coaching, tactics and fitness. Get those right and a lot of the same players can look completely different.
Squad profile: more homegrown edge
I’d also like to see a more homegrown British element to the group. Not just for the homegrown boxes, but because I think you need a bit of that English, workmanlike edge: lads who know what the Premier League is, what it demands week to week, and what it means.
That’s why I’d push for Elliot Anderson. He brings bite, legs and energy, with a good positional sense as well. If you’ve got Gravenberch playing a more conservative role alongside him, that midfield pairing makes a lot of sense to me, and you can still get him turning and breaking lines from defence into attack.
Big calls: Trent, sales, and a centre-back upgrade
This won’t be popular, but I’m for bringing Trent back, potentially with Macallaister going the other way. It could make money too, and if it hasn’t worked out elsewhere, there’s a chance they would sell for profit. It would be tail-between-the-legs stuff for him, but realistically if he came back, he is not going to up and leave a second time. I do think he loves the club, just not as much as we thought. His ability to play out from the back would make us a different animal.
At centre-back, I’d let Konate go and upgrade with Murillo. We’ve got two exciting kids in Leoni and Jacquet, but we still need an experienced campaigner to complement the group and replace Konate.
I’m also moving on Robertson, with Murillo and Gomez able to cover left-back, plus the young talent there. And Salah goes too, even though it isn’t my choice. I’m also selling Macallaister.
What I’d keep and how I’d set up
I’m keeping Gakpo. I think he’s just having a bad season, and with better fitness and a faster style, I think he’ll be back. Same goes for plenty of the others.
In goal, I’d park it for another year. Bring Jaros back into the fold and see if he can become number two behind Alisson, or whether Marma can step up a level or two.
Out wide, I’d buy Diomande for the wing because we need pace and dribbling to beat a man, and he fits that bill. He’s the only player I’m taking from a different league, and if he struggles then I’d look to go big again on the wing in the next window to complement him as he develops.
I’d also give Jones a new contract. This slow style has fed his bad habit, but I still think he kicks on under a new manager.
System-wise, I’d go 4-2-3-1: Alisson; Kerkez, Murillo, Van Dijk, TAA; Gravenberch, Anderson; Wirtz, Szoboslai, Diomande; Ekitike. On the bench I’d have Jaros, Gomez, Leoni, Jacquet, Bradley, Jones, Endo, Gakpo, Ngoumha, Frimpong and Isak, with some of those players interchangeable.
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