Five Liverpool players who will struggle for game time 2024/25

With the Arne Slot era now underway, many Liverpool players will be jostling for positions in the team.

The transfer window is now open and Arne Slot is working out which players he wants to use before dipping into the market.

Here is a list of players that may struggle to find their way into the team in the 2024/25 season.

Caoimhin Kelleher

Liverpool’s 25-year-old second-choice goalkeeper has been mooted to be leaving Anfield this summer.

Should he stay, the Irishman may not get as much gametime as he would wish.

Kelleher frequently played matches in all three cup competitions last season, but there is no guarantee of that under Slot.

Since coming through the Liverpool academy, Kelleher has always struggled for regular matches due to the brilliance of Alisson Becker. The Brazilian isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Now 25, Kelleher might fly the nest in search of first-team football.

Kostas Tsimikas

In his four years thus far with the Reds, Tsimikas has failed to displace Andy Robertson as Liverpool’s first-choice left-back.

The Greek Scouser’s performances have declined in recent years and he might feel now is the correct time to move on.

The 28-year-old featured in 13 Premier League games last term, seven shy of his previous campaign tally.

Tsimikas may be hindered by the rise of academy product Owen Beck, returning from his loan spell at Dundee.

Ultimately it comes down to how much Slot fancies Tsimikas, and whether he sees potential in 21-year-old Beck. If he does stick around, he should only expect a handful of appearances barring injuries.

Sepp van den Berg

Much of the debate around Liverpool’s transfer business this summer surrounds Sepp van den Berg and whether Liverpool stick or twist with the 22-year-old centre-back.

If he stays, he could find himself down the pecking order, behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah and potentially Joe Gomez for game time.

Van den Berg had a successful loan spell at Mainz 05 last season, winning the most aerial duels of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues.

Many favour the idea of selling van den Berg to raise cash for Liverpool’s summer transfer spends.

According to James Pearce (on X), Slot has been impressed by van den Berg since arriving, and is willing to give him a chance in Liverpool’s upcoming friendlies.

Stefan Bajcetic

After being out for almost the entirety of last season, Bajcetic will likely run into difficulty trying to earn his place back.

He featured in 11 Premier League matches in the 2022/23 season, when Liverpool had a dearth of youthful midfield options.

The advanced roles in Liverpool’s midfield have plenty of suitors, in-part due to the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

As for defensive midfield, he will face fierce competition from surprise success Wataru Endo.

It has yet to be seen whether Bajcetic will be able to displace Endo and where on-the-field Slot sees the Spaniard featuring.

Fabio Carvalho

Since returning from a successful loan spell at Hull City, Carvalho has let it be known that he wants to stake a claim in the Liverpool first-team.

He scored nine times in 20 league appearances for Hull last season.

The 21-year-old  stated that he prefers to play in the number 10 position, which didn’t exist in Klopp’s system.

Some have pondered the idea that he could play on the left, but Liverpool are already loaded with players in that position, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.

Slot does favour having an attacking midfielder of sorts in his convoluted system, that could leave the door open for Carvalho to be a surprise fixture in his team.

If he wants to return to the lineup, Slot will have to work out which position Carvalho should play.