Keep, sell, or loan? Evaluating Liverpool’s squad this transfer window

Forwards

Xherdan Shaqiri

He barely featured all campaign and was hampered by various injuries. There was a time not so long ago when he could reasonably expect to fetch £25-30 million on the market. As it stands, he’s not a Klopp favorite, though he provides decent cover for Salah. If it were any other window, it would be time to move on.

Sell if a reasonable offer comes in (£15 million or more), keep if not.

Harvey Elliott

Notes: Bundles of talent, though his role this season seems linked to the fate of Shaqiri. He’s in that in-between stage of needing the challenge of going out on loan or developing further with the youth team.

Keep, or loan if it’s a good situation.

Roberto Firmino

Notes: Goalscoring was an issue for him this year but some positive regression to the mean should allay some of that. It’s unclear just how often Timo Werner would have featured had he signed, though it’s probably safe to say Origi isn’t the future of the forward line. Firmino isn’t going anywhere, but his replacement might be coming in soon.

Sadio Mane

Many argue that he’s now eclipsed Salah as Liverpool’s most dangerous scoring threat. Whether or not you agree, you simply don’t move anyone this good without receiving a huge sum of money. Not gonna happen in the era of COVID.

Mohamed Salah

Perhaps unfairly criticized given how he once again led the club in goals. There are always ludicrous rumors about him leaving and they seem downright outlandish right now in this market.

Takumi Minamino

A lackluster start hasn’t helped his standing among supporters. He’ll be hoping the new campaign gives him an opportunity to shine.

Keep.

Divock Origi

The big-game man is a fan favorite—this writer included—and it’s easy to forget he’s only 25 years old. That said, he’s never quite cut the cloth at Liverpool, and with Aston Villa interested, it’s surely time to move on.