Leading the way in the Premier League title race, top of the Champions League and still in both domestic cups, Liverpool have the perfect platform to secure glory this season.
Arne Slot’s side have surpassed all expectations, with just two defeats in 31 matches, but recent results have given hope to their rivals. Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest was the fourth time Liverpool have dropped points in their last seven league matches.
With the January window open, there’s a debate raging among fans over whether the squad needs strengthening.
Memories are still fresh of last season, when Liverpool ran out of gas during the end of Jurgen Klopp’s reign and only had the Carabao Cup to show for their efforts.
Slot is adamant they have sufficient depth to last the pace this time, pointing to the calibre of substitutes he can bring off the bench. The injury situation is certainly different to a year ago, too, with defender Joe Gomez (hamstring) currently the only player sidelined.
There are some major recruitment decisions on the horizon given the ongoing uncertainty over the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contracts expire in the summer.
But what about the here and now? Do they really need to splash the cash in January or are they well equipped for what’s ahead?
Here’s your Liverpool squad audit.
Goalkeeper
Liverpool’s goalkeeping department continues to be well-stocked.
Alisson, 32, is one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, although a hamstring injury picked up against Crystal Palace ruled him out for around two months and he is still getting back to his best.
In Alisson’s absence, Caoimhin Kelleher, 26, once again proved why Liverpool view him as one of the best second-choice goalkeepers in Europe.
Caoimhin Kelleher has impressed when filling in for Alisson (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
Except for his late misjudgement against Newcastle United in the 3-3 draw, Kelleher barely put a foot wrong in Alisson’s absence. If his name was on the teamsheet against Brentford this Saturday, there would be no panic.
Vitezslav Jaros has made one start — the 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Brighton & Hove Albion — and impressed. Jaros, 23, made a handful of excellent saves and looked accomplished with the ball at his feet.
Audit rating: 9/10
Right-back
Despite the recent question marks over Alexander-Arnold after his below-par performance against Manchester United, he remains one of the best right-backs in the world.
The 26-year-old’s quality in possession is a crucial part of Liverpool’s attacking plan. Slot has repeatedly praised Alexander-Arnold’s defensive performances as well.
His contract situation looms in the background, but Liverpool are adamant they will not sell him in January after rejecting Real Madrid’s enquiries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be leaving this month but his long-term future remains in doubt (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Conor Bradley has established himself as a reliable understudy since he broke into the first team last season.
The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international has a very different profile to Alexander-Arnold, but their varied skill sets offers Slot flexibility.
The key will be keeping both fit. Bradley has already missed over a month due to a muscle problem, and both missed periods of last season.
Audit rating: 8/10
Centre-back
Van Dijk continues to be one of the best defenders in the world, even at 33.
His centre-back partner Ibrahima Konate, 25, was also operating at a high level before suffering a knee injury against Real Madrid in November. The defender’s comeback was accelerated following the injury to Joe Gomez but he has looked below his best since returning.
Gomez had stepped in admirably during Konate’s absence. Having operated at full-back for much of last season, the 27-year-old looked comfortable in his preferred position. His injury against West Ham was an unfortunate blow and the most recent update from Slot was that he was “quite far” from his comeback.
It has left Liverpool with three fit senior centre-backs. Jarell Quansah has endured a tough second season at senior level. After being substituted at half-time in the first Premier League game of the season, the 21-year-old has failed to replicate the form he produced in the 2023-24 campaign and looks low on confidence.
With Gomez out for the foreseeable, another injury could really stretch Liverpool’s resources and Konate’s injury record is troubling. However, most teams carry four senior centre-backs and adding a fifth could present problems.
Standards have slipped from the compact and structured setup that gave Liverpool an impressive defensive platform at the start of the campaign. They have kept only three clean sheets in their last 11 games.
Audit rating: 7/10
Left-back
This is the area of the squad generating the most concern across the fanbase.
Andy Robertson’s form continues to deteriorate and he has repeatedly found himself at the scene of the crime of defensive errors this season.
The Scotland international is a modern Liverpool great, but has, at times, looked a long way off the high standards he has set in previous seasons. The 30-year-old can still produce good performances — he is not ‘finished’ as some suggest — but those positive displays are becoming more isolated rather than consistent runs of form.
Robertson’s struggles have opened the door for Kostas Tsimikas to compete for the starting left-back spot, arguably for the first time since his arrival in 2020, having always served as the backup.
The 28-year-old has been used more frequently by Slot and seems to have earned more trust from the new head coach than he did from his predecessor. He has largely performed well when selected, repaying the faith.
Tsimikas still has his limitations and vulnerabilities defensively. He may be the better option on form, but that does not completely solve Liverpool’s problems.
His injury, suffered at the start of November, was badly timed, and meant Slot was unable to rotate Robertson. Tiredness could be contributing to his issues, and Robertson also missed a large portion of pre-season through injury.
Upgrading at left-back is high on Liverpool’s to-do list but it would be a huge surprise if they decided to have three senior left-backs in the squad for the rest of the campaign. Ultimately, they need Tsimikas to remain consistent and hope Robertson can rediscover his form.
Audit rating: 6/10
Defensive midfield
Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation for Liverpool this season, becoming an integral figure.
After a difficult debut season, the 22-year-old has, somewhat surprisingly, established himself in the No 6 position and exceeded all expectations. His off-the-ball work has improved and in possession, he is an exceptional ball carrier and progressive passer.
Wataru Endo has had to settle for limited minutes and is less suited to Slot’s system. It became clear in pre-season that the 31-year-old did not profile as the type of player the new head coach planned to use as a No 6.
Liverpool’s summer pursuit of Martin Zubimendi showed they felt it was an area of the team that could be upgraded. Despite that, Endo’s attitude and application have remained at a high standard and Slot has turned to him late on in games to shore up the midfield.
Wataru Endo is the only senior defensive midfield back-up to Ryan Gravenberch (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Concerns will increase if Gravenberch suffers an injury that keeps him out for more than a few weeks. Endo is not Slot’s only option in that position, with Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai all candidates to fill that role.
Tyler Morton, 22, and James McConnell, 20, have also been used deeper in midfield but neither has seen any Premier League action this season. They are candidates to leave Anfield this month, with the former speaking about it being “decision time” regarding his future after victory against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday and preliminary discussions being held about a loan move McConnell before this window opened.
Audit rating: 7/10
Attacking midfield
Mac Allister has been one of the mainstays of Slot’s side.
The World Cup winner has only missed one league all season and that was due to suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
At ease dropping deeper alongside Gravenberch or playing more advanced, Mac Allister, 26, is a class act. He’s adept at breaking up attacks and putting Liverpool on the front foot with his distribution.
The only concern regards the scale of his workload. Slot gave the Argentina international a week off to rest when he was banned last month.
Liverpool’s head coach has tended to rotate the No 10 role between Szoboszlai, 24, and Jones, 23. They both have the same numbers in terms of impact in the final third with three goals and four assists apiece in all competitions.
Dominik Szoboszlai has rotated in the No 10 role (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
As well as their reliance on Gravenberch, Harvey Elliott’s lack of game time has contributed to the debate over whether Liverpool could do with another option in midfield.
Elliott, 21, still hasn’t started a league game under Slot. A broken bone in his foot kept him out for two and a half months and since returning to action in late November, he’s been on the periphery.
When Elliott has been given opportunities to shine in the domestic cups, he has been played wide on the right rather than in his favoured central role.
Liverpool also have Trey Nyoni as backup. The club have high hopes for the 17-year-old but he’s still raw and learning his trade.
Audit rating: 8/10
Right-winger
No need to spend much time dwelling on this department of the squad.
Liverpool have the most potent right-sided attacker in Europe — Salah, who boasts 21 goals and 17 assists in 29 appearances in all competitions this season. That’s a goal involvement every 64 minutes.
Doubts about the Egyptian’s future rumble on with his contract due to expire in the summer, but there’s no chance the 32-year-old is going anywhere this month.
Mohamed Salah is incredibly productive at Liverpool – but for how much longer? (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Salah is incredibly robust, starting every Premier League and Champions League match this season.
It’s just as well given that Federico Chiesa, who was signed to provide cover for Salah, has endured such a tough introduction to English football following his move from Juventus last summer.
Missing pre-season didn’t help and the Italy international has been hampered by fitness issues. Liverpool have been dismissive of reports suggesting they could sanction a loan for him this month.
The hope is that the 27-year-old can finally kick on after scoring his first goal for the club off the bench against Accrington.
Audit rating: 8/10
Left-winger
There’s no cause for concern on the other flank either.
Cody Gakpo has been enjoying the best spell of his Liverpool career. Klopp moved him around but Gakpo, 25, has benefited from a settled role on the left under Slot. He’s a serious threat when he cuts inside onto his right foot and has scored 12 goals in all competitions — just four short of his overall tally for 2023-24.
To keep things fresh, Slot has rotated Gakpo with Luis Diaz. He’s also found room for them both on occasions by playing Diaz, 28, through the middle.
The criticism with Diaz previously was that, for all the dazzling close control, there wasn’t enough end product to his game. However, the Colombian has improved on that front with 12 goals so far.
Liverpool had been monitoring the situation of Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is set to join Paris Saint-Germain. But the presence of Gakpo and Diaz means they are already well stocked on the left. They also have rookie Rio Ngumoha coming through. The 16-year-old became the youngest player in the club’s history to start a senior game when he faced Accrington.
Audit rating: 9/10
Centre-forward
Fitness and form means no one has enjoyed an extended run as Liverpool’s No 9 this season.
Out of 20 league matches, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have each started seven times in that position, with Diaz trusted for the other six.
Jota is Liverpool’s most complete centre-forward but he missed two months due to a chest injury and has been managed carefully since returning to action in December. After his instant impact off the bench against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday when he headed home his eighth goal of the campaign, Jota, 28, looks destined for a bigger role in the coming weeks. He’s a natural finisher but keeping him fit is the challenge.
Diogo Jota’s eye for goal is beyond dispute (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Nunez, 25, is a worry given his struggles to adapt to what Slot wants from him. The Uruguayan striker has collected more bookings (six) than goals (four) this season and his confidence has been affected. His only goal since November came in the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton.
There’s been speculation about interest in Nunez from the Saudi Pro League but Liverpool haven’t received any offers.
Academy striker Jayden Danns provided a timely reminder of his ability when he came on against Accrington. Liverpool must decide whether to keep the 19-year-old around or sanction a loan for the second half of the season.
Audit rating: 7/10
(Top photos: Getty Images)
