Darwin Núñez and three others should benefit most as Jürgen Klopp hints at Liverpool changes

Liverpool is scheduled to play its final match of the season this weekend, with Southampton set to host the Reds on Sunday afternoon. Jürgen Klopp has hinted at throwing down the gauntlet and making a number of changes to his team, which makes sense considering his players are guaranteed to finish fifth in the Premier League regardless of the result.

“I think it makes sense that we make changes, to get fresh players on the pitch, and players who want to show something,” said the German coach in his pre-match press conference. It remains to be seen who will be included, but several players fit the bill based on Klopp’s words.

Ahead of Liverpool’s last bout of the campaign, which players could be set to be presented with a final opportunity to impress before getting a break for the summer?

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Four second-string players seem in contention to be involved, with Darwin Núñez perhaps the most prominent.

Darwin Núñez

Núñez will be hoping to conclude his debut campaign on English shores on a positive note this weekend. He is confirmed as fit and available for the contest, and if he makes an impression by assuming the spotlight, he could grab Klopp’s attention ahead of next term.

The South American striker is packed full of chaos and intensity on the field, but he’s started just two of Liverpool’s last nine matches since Klopp adopted a new-look 3-2-5 shape with possession. The new blueprint could suit Núñez up front but so far, the Reds boss has appeared to favor Cody Gakpo as his focal point.

The Uruguayan international is the most expensive transfer purchase in Liverpool’s history, yet 12 months after his arrival, he hasn’t yet established himself as a fixed starter. Things can certainly change next season but between now and then, the 23-year-old has an opportunity to make the headlines by making a statement against the worst team in the division in 20th-placed Southampton.

Joe Gomez

Next up is Joe Gomez, who could be presented with a chance considering Ibrahima Konaté was ill at the time of Klopp’s pre-match press conference on Friday morning. The English defender has featured just once since Liverpool conceded five goals against Real Madrid at Anfield in February.

Indeed, Gomez was once a solid performer on Merseyside. He still has all of the necessary qualities to prosper for a dominant outfit such as Liverpool, as he’s aggressive, physical, fast and capable on the ball, but he seems to have lost a great deal of confidence over the past 18 months.

Still just 26 years old, the homegrown defender still has plenty left in the tank to contribute to Liverpool, but he needs to start showcasing better form once again after a turbulent campaign. With the Reds said to be in the market for a new center-back this summer, Gomez must remind Klopp of his level before the window opens in just a few weeks.

Kostas Tsimikas

Another player who could be about to gain a start due to an unfortunate injury problem is Kostas Tsimikas. Andy Robertson is Klopp’s first-choice left-back, but the Scottish international has a minor concern with his hamstring according to the Reds coach, which could rule him out.

Tsimikas hasn’t experienced a great season on Merseyside. As a support act for Robertson, he’s been good but not great whenever he’s been called upon to get involved. The Greek full-back hasn’t done enough to truly challenge Robertson for a starring role in the team, and he’s now got just two years remaining on his contract.

Moreover, Klopp recently adopted a new-look 3-2-5 shape in possession which consists of the team’s left-back tucking inside as a third center-back at times. Tsimikas is not ideally suited to such a role, but this weekend, he has a chance to prove that he can cope with Klopp’s new demands.

Fábio Carvalho

The final talent who could start for Liverpool this weekend is Fábio Carvalho. His debut campaign on Merseyside has not gone according to plan, with Klopp admitting as much during his pre-match press conference, suggesting that he could be loaned out next term.

“This was not Fábio’s best season of his career but it might be his most important,” said the German on Friday morning. “No one has impressed me more than Fábio. A very talented boy with big dreams but it didn’t work. His work ethic will give him a fantastic career. His reaction was unbelievable. We will see if he goes on loan.”

Carvalho has played just 11 minutes of football since the middle of January but this weekend, he could gain a chance to impress. If a move is already set in stone ahead of the summer, the Portuguese prospect could even put himself in the shop window with a good performance against the Saints, stimulating interest among potential suitors.

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Liverpool forward closing in on a transfer to Athletic Bilbao

Liverpool close to sale of youngster Elijah Gift with Athletic Bilbao interested

Academy forward Elijah Gift is edging closer to joining Athletic Bilbao as his transfer moves forward following Liverpool FC’s acceptance of a transfer fee from the La Liga club. The negotiations between the two teams have reached an agreement, paving the way for Gift’s potential move to the Spanish side.

As per the ECHO, the 16-year-old could oversee a return to his native in Spain and explore the opportunity of playing for a top Spanish club like Bilbao. Elijah Gift joined the Reds as a U12 player from Huddersfield Town, and since has donned the Reds of Merseyside.

This season alone, across all competitions, he has three goals and as many assists in 20 appearances. Liverpool pocketing a fee worth £1m and thereabouts as per The Athletic could prove to be a good deal for the Reds.

Bilbao has a well-known policy of exclusively recruiting players from the Basque region, making their interest in the winger particularly significant. As a result of this strict selection criteria, the club sees itself forced to pay up a premium price, at least for a 16-year-old.

Gift to Bilbao

Liverpool have plenty of options when it comes to wide players in the academy, and that could be one of the reasons why the Reds are open to selling the player and literally handing Bilbao a ‘Gift’.

With the inclusion of talented players such as Ben Doak, Harvey Blair, Trent Kone-Doherty, and Ranel Young, who recently inked his first professional contract with the club, the Young Reds boast an abundance of skill on the wings in both the Under-21s and Under-18s squads.

Liverpool’s wide players have a significant void to fill in the coming years, with Mohamed Salah also ageing and needing replacement at one point in the future. Any of these mentioned players could potentially have a huge role in the Reds’ future taking on the baton from the Egyptian.

While we bid farewell to Elijah Gift and wish him the best in his future endeavours, we eagerly anticipate the emergence of new stars who will carry the club forward.

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Liverpool’s rich history and commitment to promoting youth talent ensure that the future remains bright for the club and its fans. Hopefully, we have more players from the academy establish themselves as regulars of the first team in the coming years.