Liverpool last played in the Europa League in 2015-16 when Brendan Rodgers oversaw an unsettled summer signing before Jürgen Klopp arrived
Liverpool are embarking on a crucial summer transfer window as Jurgen Klopp must rebuild his squad for the 2023-24 season.
The Reds finished fifth in the Premier League last season and will therefore progress to the Europa League after the off-season. Klopp has led his side to the Champions League for the past six seasons, so next season will be an unusual experience.
He also doesn’t yet know which players he will be looking after, with Alexis Mac Allister the only confirmed newcomer. The German manager knows James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be involved, having left the club after their contracts expired. Many new signings are needed, with the midfield being of particular importance. So what can Liverpool learn from their last position in this role?
Before starting the 2015/16 Europa League season with a sixth-place finish under Brendan Rodgers the year before.
Klopp wasn’t there yet, but how many signings did he lead to success when he took over from Rodgers in October 2015? let’s find out Joe Gomez
Gomez arrived from Charlton Athletic when he was just 18, following an impressive campaign in south London. England under-19 international cost Liverpool £3.5m based on just 24 appearances – and 16 starts – for Charlton in the Championship
Liverpool played the long game with Gomez and there is no doubt that he repaid the trust. Gomez, still at the club, made 173 appearances for that £3.5million, playing at both centre-back and right-back. Though hampered by injuries, the 26-year-old has been more than a useful squad player and was once Virgil van Dijk’s first choice in defence.
Bogdan joined Liverpool on a free transfer after his Bolton contract expired. The Hungary international was 27 at the time and arrived after producing excellent performances in two FA Cup games against Liverpool.
He made little impression at his new club, making just six first-team appearances in his four years at Liverpool.
James Milner
Another free agent, Milner signed for Liverpool after his contract with Manchester City expired. He has turned down a new £165,000-a-week contract with City to join Liverpool, who have arrived ahead of Arsenal to bring in the veteran midfielder, 29.
Milner enjoyed a stellar career at Liverpool, making 332 appearances, scoring 26 goals and contributing 46 assists before joining Brighton in the summer. A fantastic and incredibly versatile professional, Milner will likely go down in history as one of Klopp’s favorite players when he finally leaves Merseyside himself.
Danny Ing
Liverpool continued their bargain-hunting by snapping up Ings from Burnley and signing him when his Lancashire contract expired. Ings was just 22 at the time and came on after scoring 11 goals in Burnley’s relegation battle.
Unfortunately for both teams, things didn’t go well for Ings at Liverpool. Over the next four years, he only played 25 games, scoring only four goals. This was mainly due to injury: he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the first training session under Klopp and a year later another serious knee problem had to be operated on.
He joined Southampton on loan in the summer of 2018 before making the move permanent.
Clyne became the fourth player to join Anfield from Southampton in a year when he completed a £12.5million transfer. He followed Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert to Merseyside after 94 solid appearances for the Saints.
Clyne was immediately named first-choice right-back by Rodgers – a position he held under Klopp, despite the rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But a serious back injury ahead of the 2017-18 season gave Gomez and Alexander-Arnold chances and he eventually joined Bournemouth on loan in January 2019 and then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a pre- season that summer, marking the end of his Rossi meant. career.
Roberto Firmino
Firmino arrived from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015 on a five-year deal for a fee of around £29m. At the time, there was widespread skepticism towards the Brazilian, who became the club’s second most expensive player after Andy Carroll (£35m).
Over the next eight years, he allayed those concerns and became virtually every Liverpool fan’s favorite player. The hardworking, intelligent and consistent striker has been an integral part of Klopp’s top squad and left behind an undisputed club legend this summer.
Benteke has been a serious signing this summer having scored 49 goals in 101 games for Aston Villa. He cost £32.5m, overtaking Firmino as a new signing.
He should be the answer after Luis Suárez left, leaving Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli and Lambert to underperform as the club’s forwards. It didn’t work that way.
It was just ten goals in 42 appearances for the Belgium striker, who lasted just one season before being sold to Crystal Palace.
