Until Liverpool produce a miraculous comeback in opposition to Atalanta within the Europa League on Thursday evening, Jurgen Klopp will handle his aspect for under seven extra matches earlier than leaving as supervisor for the ultimate time.
To say change s afoot could be one thing of an understatement for an outfit that has risen from the rubble to take pleasure in probably the most illustrious interval of its trendy historical past underneath the German’s wing, however he’s leaving, and a successor is required.
Fortunately, Liverpool have labored arduous to nominate a worthy inheritor and, whereas nothing is ready in stone, the pointers confidently recommend that Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim would be the man to take the baton.
The 39-year-old has labored wonders in Portugal’s capital to defeat the Porto slash Benfica monopoly and win one league title and three home cups since his arrival in 2020. Furthermore, he is 4 factors clear in Liga Portugal this time period with a sport in hand, awaiting one among Porto or Vitoria FC within the Taca de Portugal closing in Could.
Amorim doesn’t play the identical model of urgent and counter-pressing soccer that Klopp has woven intrinsically into Anfield’s DNA, however he is tactically savvy with an exquisite ball-focused fashion of play, virtually completely fielding a three-man backline.
It could be one thing completely different, however there’s each likelihood it could possibly be an auspicious appointment. Here is how the beginning line-up might look at first of the 2024/25 season.
1
GK – Alisson Becker
It has been a irritating marketing campaign for Alisson Becker, who has languished on the sidelines with varied accidents for chunky parts, however he is nonetheless one of many best goalkeepers within the enterprise and he is going nowhere subsequent time period.
2
CB – Ibrahima Konate
Whereas he isn’t had the best of weeks, Ibrahima Konate stays a high-level centre-back and he would excel in a tweaked defensive set-up, together with his ground-covering brilliance, technical abilities and monstrous physicality more likely to work wonders subsequent season.
3
CB – Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk has received silverware in his maiden season as Liverpool captain and whereas latest outcomes have threatened the essential closing section of Klopp’s swansong, he is been imperious and can proceed to function the Premier League’s standout defender underneath new administration.
4
CB – Goncalo Inacio
The attention-grabbing new asset and the person who would be the fulcrum of Liverpool’s shift in form underneath Amorim’s tutelage, we’re predicting Goncalo Inacio to lastly make the leap to English shores following Liverpool’s vested curiosity within the dynamic defender final 12 months.
A number of stories recommend that the Reds can snap the ball-playing specialist up for simply £40m this summer time, together with his singular fashion good for slotting in an additional man alongside Van Dijk and Konate.
As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the many high 20% of central defenders throughout divisions much like Liga Portugal over the previous 12 months for targets, the highest 5% for shot-creating actions, the highest 1% for passes tried and progressive passes, the highest 10% for progressive carries and the highest 11% for profitable take-ons per 90.
5
RWB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
He appears destined for a future within the centre of the park and maybe that may happen underneath Amorim, however for now Trent Alexander-Arnold’s masterful qualities will likely be wanted down the precise channel in a task which may truly go well with him completely.
Bolstering by three centre-halves, the influential England worldwide might discover his creativity attain even loftier heights, having created 13 huge possibilities and averaged 2.5 key passes and 6.4 ball recoveries throughout simply 19 Premier League begins in 2023/24, as per Sofascore.
6
LWB – Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson is used to taking part in in a again 4 however he’s blessed with a lot power and enthusiasm that there is no doubt he’ll be capable to adapt to a wing-back position, merely supplied a better license to overlap and whip fierce balls into the field. In spite of everything, he has featured in that position for Scotland occasionally.
7
CM – Alexis Mac Allister
Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m final summer time, Alexis Mac Allister has most likely been Liverpool’s greatest season this season and you may guess your backside greenback that he’ll play an orchestrating position within the centre for Amorim.
8
CM – Martin Hjulmand
Wataru Endo has been an excellent shock signing for Liverpool in holding midfield and invariably works his socks off, however Amorim could possibly be satisfied to return to Sporting Lisbon to signal Martin Hjulmand, who has been a monster within the center for his title-chasing staff this season.
Martin Hjulmand: Liga Portugal Stats 23/24 |
|
---|---|
Stat |
# |
Matches performed |
25 |
Matches began |
23 |
Objectives |
3 |
Assists |
2 |
Move completion |
87% |
Key passes per sport |
0.8 |
Tackles per sport |
1.9 |
Ball recoveries per sport |
5.1 |
Duels received per sport |
4.0 |
Stats through Sofascore |
Like Inacio, the 24-year-old Dane has been touted with a transfer to Merseyside this summer time, following his present supervisor’s footsteps.
9
RW – Michael Olise
The massive one. Whereas the considered Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool leaves a gnawing sense of dread on the core of each supporter, the 31-year-old is out of contract in 2025 and Amorim may be inclined to money in whereas he nonetheless can, with the Reds rejecting a £150m proposal from Al-Ittihad final summer time.
Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise could be the right man for the job, and with Liverpool linked with a transfer for the rising winger again in January, who has a £60m launch clause in his contract, it could possibly be the transfer to make.
He is been hailed as a “wizard” by author Muhammad Butt, having clinched six targets and three assists from solely 9 beginning shows within the top-flight this time period, additionally averaging 1.9 key passes, 2.3 dribbles and 6.2 profitable duels per sport to underscore his robustness.
10
LW – Luis Diaz
Paris Saint-Germain have lately been linked with a transfer for Luis Diaz however with Salah presumably on the transfer, it is unlikely that the Colombian will depart too, particularly given how effectively his qualities would meld into Amorim’s tactical set-up.
Diaz is electric-paced and boasts a form of clockwork cohesion in his unceasing runs down the left channel. He is not probably the most scientific of gamers however he’ll accomplish that a lot work to make sure the brand new period on Merseyside is full of success.
11
CF – Darwin Nunez
Diogo Jota will nonetheless play a big half however given the system Amorim employs, Darwin Nunez might discover that his irritating potential reaches new heights.
Take Victor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon talisman with a staggering return of 36 targets and 16 assists from 43 appearances underneath Amorim this season, signing from Coventry Metropolis for £20m.
Extra importantly although, the Sweden worldwide ranks among the many high 3% of positional friends throughout divisions much like the Liga Portugal for assists, the highest 4% for shot-creating actions and the highest 1% for progressive carries and profitable take-ons per 90.
Nunez too is as dynamic as they arrive and boasts 18 targets and 13 assists throughout all competitions this time period, rating among the many high 12% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for shot-creating actions and the highest 14% for progressive carries per 90.
Below Amorim, the Uruguayan might lastly bloom into the world-class star that his ability set deserves.
Liverpool’s dream XI underneath Ruben Amorim in full: (GK) Alisson Becker; (CB) Ibrahima Konate, (CB) Virgil van Dijk, (CB) Goncalo Inacio; (RWB) Trent Alexander-Arnold, (LWB) Andy Robertson; (CM) Alexis Mac Allister, (CM) Martin Hjulmand; (RW) Michael Olise, (LW) Luis Diaz, (CF) Darwin Nunez