Keep/Sell/Loan: How Liverpool Should handle Their Roster This Summer

As is the case with every summer transfer window, players will come and others will go. The current crop of players leave the club with plenty of work to do in the summer to give the club the best opportunity to win in the upcoming campaign. 

So who stays and who goes?

I broke down each situation regarding their entire roster to see who they keep, sell, and loan:

Adrian

A tumultuous year for the back-up keeper. Thrust once again into the lineup due to injury to Alisson Becker. Proved he is not the consistent back-up we once had in the season prior. Errors, decision-making, and positioning proved costly. Leaving on a free at the end of the season.

     Result: Leaving on a free.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

No brainer.

     Result: Keep (Duh).

Alisson Becker

Best goal-scoring keeper in world football.

     Result: Keep and extend contract.

Leighton Clarkson

More appearances on the bench this campaign for the young midfielder. Played well in the Champions League tie in Denmark against Midtjylland, but Liverpool's midfield will prove once again to be too much to break into as he is far down the pecking order. Possibly ready for the next step in his footballing journey.

     Result: Loan (Championship side)

Ben Davies

Yet to make an appearance since being signed in January amid the center-back crisis. Either Klopp believes Davies is not good enough, or he is giving him time to adjust and perhaps help out in a cup run this upcoming season. If the value has risen, LFC must sell.

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£5Million).

Harvey Elliott

A stellar campaign on loan last season in the Championship at Blackburn Rovers. A step up to the Premier league should not be out of the question, but is it with Liverpool? 

If Liverpool do not find an attacker in the summer, easy decision is to have Elliott as a back-up to Mohamed Salah, but at what cost would a lack of game-time mean to his development? Major decision to be made here for Liverpool with their bright young talent.

     Result: Loan (Leeds, Brighton, Newcastle).

Fabinho

Liverpool's late surge for Champions League qualification may have very well come down to moving Fabinho back into his regular role as holding midfielder. Without a doubt one of the most important players to Klopp's side.

     Result: Keep and extend contract.

Roberto Firmino

With production again becoming an issue, Liverpool's no.9 will look to take his fine form at the end of the year into the next campaign. 

Still has flashes of his old self and always helps out the team in any capacity he can.

     Result: Keep.

Joe Gomez

Another injury plagued season for the English center-back. Hopefully he is able to put together a strong campaign in the upcoming season and maintain a good bill of health along the way.

     Result: Keep.

Jordan Henderson

Injuries may have once again hampered his campaign, but there is no doubt who the clubs leader is. Easy decision here.

     Result: Keep.

Curtis Jones

Really beginning to impact games in midfield. Very promising future.

     Result: Keep.

Diogo Jota

Stellar signing last summer (or fall, I guess). Was able to make an instant impact and cause teams a headache. 

Was pivotal for the squad before an injury caused him to be out for roughly three months. A proven match winner who looks to be evolving into a prototypical Klopp-winger.

     Result: Keep.

Ozan Kabak

With the arrival of Ibrahima Konate, it was never in doubt that Kabak's time at Liverpool was coming to an end. He has said his goodbye's and best of luck to him and his bright future ahead.

     Result: End of Loan.

Loris Karius

The ghost of Champions League past has returned once again. Sell at all costs.

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£2Million)

Naby Keita

Perhaps the hardest player to assess. Injury plagued since his arrival, Keita has surely failed to live up to expectations thus far. At times can look absolutely brilliant, but in other instances look lost. 

With his fairly young age and obvious potential, if an offer meets what Klopp and Edwards are after, they must take it; otherwise, Keita is faced with a make-it or break-it season ahead of him.

     Result: Keep (Reluctantly).

Caoimhin Kelleher

What a surprise the young Irish 'keeper turned out to be. Proved he can perform in big matches both domestically and in Europe. However, game time is a must at this stage in his career and he won't get that at Liverpool.

     Result: Loan (Needs to be a starter elsewhere).

Billy Koumetio

A young talent that seems to have the eye of Klopp and his coaches. Fits the mold of center-back that Klopp and Michael Edwards like. Tall, aerially superb, high ceiling; only downside is that he is very raw. More game time in the academy is surely where he needs to be at this moment.

     Result: Keep (Academy).

Sadio Mane

Even Mane called his season the "worst of his career". Knowing that and how he finished this past season strong, there is still plenty left in the tank of the Senegalese winger. Easy decision here.

     Result: Keep.

Joel Matip

Another tough decision for Liverpool to make. Matip's recently signed contract extension keeps him at the club until the 2023/2024 season. With three more years left on that deal and the player in his prime, he could be extremely valuable. 

But alas, injuries have curtailed his last few seasons at LFC. If an offer comes in that meets demands, you take it. Otherwise, this marriage isn't over quite yet.

     Result: Keep (Reluctantly).

James Milner

Still one of the unsung leaders at the club. A voice and a personality that is great in the dressing room. Perhaps his last season as a pro.

     Result: Keep.

Takumi Minamino

Minamino's season was certainly an odd one. Lack of playing time with Liverpool saw the Japanese forward go out on loan to Southampton.

After starting out with a bang, Minamino eventually started to lose playing time again. Still shows signs of promise, but perhaps time to cash in.

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£10Million)

Divock Origi

A cult hero, but his time with Liverpool is certainly up. No goals in very limited appearances and showing very little when given a chance. (That miss vs Burnley...horrendous).

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£15Million)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

When healthy and able to get minutes, Oxlade-Chamberlain still has so much to offer. Still one of the more versatile players in the squad, he is sure to have suitors this summer, but selling "Ox" at this stage of his career is something Liverpool could be kicking themselves over if that's the route they decide. He provides much needed depth and a spark off the bench.

     Result: Keep.

Nathaniel Phillips

What a job Nathaniel Phillips has done filling in at center-back for Liverpool in the latter half of the season. Undeniably one of the main reasons Liverpool are Champions League bound in 2021/2022. 

Proved that he can play at a Premier League level. Deserves to be rewarded with a new contract and remain at the club for at least another year.

     Result: Keep.

Andy Robertson

Best left-back in Europe. Absolute no brainer.

     Result: Keep and extend contract.

Mohamed Salah

Give the man a new contract. Simple as that.

     Result: KEEP!

Xherdan Shaqiri

Another tough choice. The spark Shaqiri can provide off the bench is unheralded. Can play up-and-down the right-hand side as a winger or midfielder. 

Can offer a lot from dead-ball scenarios as well. However, a lack of play-time and plenty of interest from elsewhere may finally result in the Swiss international leaving Anfield.

     Result: Sell (Reluctantly; Value: ~£12Million)

Thiago Alcantara

Immense at the end of the season and proved to be worth every penny when it mattered most. He goes nowhere this summer and becomes even more integral to the way Liverpool play in the future.

     Result: Keep.

Kostas Tsimikas

Not much was seen of Tsimikas in his first season with the Reds. Another season and a better grasp on the system, it seems as though he needed to be given time to get comfortable, understand the system, and now it looks as though Klopp may be ready to give his opportunity.

     Result: Keep and assess.

Virgil van Dijk

Even with one knee, he's the best defender in football. period.

     Result: Keep.

Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson has now had three solid loan spells over the past few years. With limited game time ahead of him, this may very well be the window in which he departs for good. Exceptional free-kick taker. Unfortunately, not the caliber of player for a team like Liverpool.

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£12M).

Neco Williams

Unfortunately, Neco Williams did not get as much playing time as hoped this past season. Injuries in and around the defense shut down many chances for him to be into the starting lineup as Klopp would use his more trusted veterans in the squad. 

As a back-up option, he still needs to fine tune his game. Perhaps he may be able to do that in the Championship.

     Result: Loan (Championship side).

Rhys Williams

A surprising young talent Liverpool may have on their hands here. Williams was thrust into the spotlight and played very well considering he last played for Kitterminster Harriers. Williams now needs to finely tune his craft. With a healthy back-four, he may need to go elsewhere to find game time.

     Result: Loan (Championship side).

Ben Woodburn

Another Liverpool academy starlet that may very well see his time at the club come to an end. A loan spell at Blackpool didn't really prove as effective as Liverpool and the Wales international had hoped. Time to move him on unfortunately.

     Result: Sell (Value: ~£2Million)