We got to see quite an overhaul at Anfield last summer asJurgen Klopp parted ways with a number of fringe players as the Reds did not have any European commitment. This resulted in a very thin squad depth which Klopp might be regretting at the end of the season.
Until the turn of the New Year, the Merseyside giants were pretty much in the running for the title but after a disastrous January, they can realistically forget about the biggest prize in English football i.e. the Premier League. The Reds also crashed out of both domestic competitions which means that the club won’t be able to get hands on a silverware for yet another season.
There are still a few players at Anfield who seem to have very little future left at the club and could be headed out as early as in the summer. Let us take a look at five such stars who have no future under Klopp.
#1 Mamadou Sakho
Once the heartthrob of the Liverpool fans, Sakho is a forgotten name at Anfield right now. Quality and experience wise, he is one of the very best defenders in the Premier League. But what can you do when the manager does not want you?
Things were much different in Klopp’s first season at Liverpool when Sakho was the leader of the backline and played a big part in taking the club to the Europa League final. However, what the Frenchman had to go through since the closing stages of the last season, was really unfortunate for him.
First, Sakho failed a drug test and was imposed a ban by UEFA which made him miss both the Europa League final and the whole European Championship tournament. The ban was lifted later before the start of the new season but something bigger was waiting for him. He was sent back from Liverpool’s pre-season in the USA and was forced out of the first-team training throughout the first half of the season after a row with the manager.
Even though Sakho has a lifeline to save his career if he does well on loan at Crystal Palace but we all know how stubborn a man Klopp is. He is someone who backs his players even in the extreme situations but once he stops doing that for an individual, it is really hard to change his mindset again. So, Sakho’s future is very very doubtful at Anfield.
#2 Lucas Leiva
Lucas Leiva, definitely a legend at Liverpool Football Club, has given his all to the club down the years but it is better for the sake of his career that he parts ways with the Kop as soon as possible. He is the longest serving Liverpool player right now but has been just a squad player in the last few seasons. Lucas had been a squad player for too long now and should ideally leave Liverpool in the summer in order to play more.
Serving Liverpool since 2007, bidding a goodbye will be hard for the player as well as the fans but it will be beneficial for both parties. It is crystal clear that Liverpool need a world-class defensive midfielder to shore up their leaky defence and provide steel to their midfield and for that, Lucas must leave. On the other hand, the Brazilian should not find it hard to get suitors for himself and look for regular playing time.
#3 Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge, easily one of the best forwards in the Premier League on his day, has found it really hard to do justice to his talents under Jurgen Klopp. His Liverpool career had always been threatened with consecutive injuries but whenever he played, he used to score goals. This season, however, his productivity has declined and it is pretty clear that he does not suit Klopp’s high-pressing game.
Sturridge is not the first-choice forward under Klopp right now but has the quality to lead most attacks in the Premier League. Parting ways with the Reds will thus be a sensible move for the England international. Considering the quality that he possesses, he should not find it hard to get playing time on a regular basis elsewhere in the Premier League.
He can also contemplate a move abroad. AC Milan were interested in the Englishman’s services earlier this season and the Rossoneri are any day a much better and prestigious option than a mid-table Premier League side.
#4 Simon Mignolet
Mignolet, clearly not a fan favourite at Anfield, is having another average season this time out. Even though Loris Karius has failed to replace the Belgian as the first-choice under the bar, Mignolet has hardly managed to impress on a regular basis. On the other hand, Karius is slowly but surely improving. In the long run, the young German keeper should edge Mignolet as the first-choice.
Over the years, Mignolet has been pretty error-prone. Probably, this season was his last chance to prove his worth and he seems to have failed to take it. So, there is very little chance that Klopp will be kind to the former Sunderland man. If he wants first-team football, Anfield is certainly not the place for him.
#5 Alberto Moreno
In modern football, most managers want their full-backs to be adventurous which is why we get to see electrifying full-backs these days. However, we have hardly seen full-backs who do not show awareness about the basics of defending. Alberto Moreno is one of those rare specimens. Liverpool fans were furious with Klopp when he did not sign a left-back last summer and believed in Moreno who did not take long to prove his manager wrong.
James Milner, a player who is known for his work-ethics and versatility, then took over the left-back position and has proved to be a more than handy stop gap solution. We all knew he was versatile but who would have thought that the Englishman would do such a terrific job in a position where he never even played in his whole career. Moreno still got his chances in the Cup games and as usual, failed to impress. So, it is highly likely that his future is away from Anfield as well.
