Liverpool has six players who just got big boost as Jürgen Klopp can relish European opportunity

Liverpool has six players who just got big boost as Jürgen Klopp can relish European opportunity

Liverpool will be playing in the Europa League next season. While the Champions League was the preferred option, for at least six stars, there will be an opportunity.

Liverpool went into the final game of the season knowing that it could not move up or down in the Premier League table. Had there been more riding on it, perhaps neutrals (though most would have had an eye on the relegation battle) would not have been treated to eight goals shared evenly in a 4-4 tie.

Instead, the Reds knew that they would be taking part in the Europa League next season — Mohamed Salah might not be happy about that fact, but Jürgen Klopp and his players (the current ones and the ones who are going to arrive this summer) are going to have to make peace with that.

That, though, should be fairly easy. Obviously, it would be better to be in the Champions League, but the second tier European competition has its benefits — not least that the Reds will enter as favorites, and should be able to progress through the group stages while making a few changes to the team to keep things fresh in the league

But what about for the players who could be involved? Salah wants to play in every second of every game, sure, but there should be the opportunity for a bit of rotation during next season’s group stages.

Let’s take a look at some of the names that could be afforded minutes in the Europa League that they otherwise might have struggled to attain:

Caoimhín Kelleher — The Irishman could still leave this summer, but Klopp is rightly desperate for him to stay. Of course, it would require Alisson Becker to be happy to concede some European games, but that might be enough to keep Kelleher around for another year and delay a major transfer headache.

Joe Gomez — There could be more minutes available for Gomez at right-back next season with James Milner no longer there, but the England international is much better at center-back. In Europe, it could be the perfect time for him to play his preferred role. The game with Southampton showed that he needs regular game time to get back to something like his old self.

Kostas Tsimikas — Essentially the same as Gomez, the Greek left-back is not going to usurp Andy Robertson in the bigger matches but could spot a chance to earn regular action here.

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Fábio Carvalho — Having barely featured this season, there is a strong argument that Carvalho needs to go out on loan next season to avoid stagnating his progression. But the Europa League might be enough to convince him there will be opportunities.

Darwin Núñez — With five first-team options to select from in the attack, the Uruguayan forward is currently not getting much game time when he is fit. Granted, the pecking order can change a lot, but right now, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota are ahead of him. Núñez spearheading a Europa League push? Don’t rule it out.

There are others too. Harvey Elliott would have made the list, but he played a part in every one of the first 30 league games this season, so while he has not played much recently, he will get chances. Perhaps Ben Doak or Kaide Gordon could get Europa League minutes. Maybe the next Bajčetić could emerge as a result of the tournament.

Liverpool will want to do well and go far as one of the favorites, but equally, the Reds should view the opportunity to give minutes to some of those on the fringes of the squad as a useful one.

And, of course, the final is in Dublin. For the fans, that could be quite the weekend if Liverpool gets there!

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Liverpool can now focus completely on the summer transfer window without having to think about playing matches, and Jürgen Klopp knows there is plenty of work that needs doing before next season begins.

Chiefly among the priorities to get sorted out is the midfield. James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta have kicked a ball competitively for the last time in a Liverpool shirt, while Arthur Melo barely kicked a ball at all.

It won’t take four new players to replace the minutes of those players and the new additions that come in will hopefully be starters rather than squad options, but new blood is required and the links with various options are set to ramp up.

Ideally, Liverpool would get at least two Premier League midfielders in (or at least two players with Premier League experience) so that there is no adaptation period required.

But among the links today are two players that currently play elsewhere around Europe’s top five leagues. Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.

Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio)
Liverpool needs new midfield talent this summer and Serie A star Sergej Milinković-Savić could be the answer, according to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Galetti suggested that the Reds could be in for the 28-year-old and Klopp is ‘exploring’ a transfer, which would cost around $43m (£35m/€40m) to complete.

Liverpool.com says: Slightly older than the typical Liverpool target this summer, this seems an unlikely one, even for a cut-price fee. Milinković-Savić is linked with a move away from Italy every year but has never moved, with Manchester United most often associated with a big-money bid.

With only a year left on his contract, this might finally be the time that he does get a switch elsewhere, though Liverpool has other priorities in mind that are younger and more suited to Klopp’s style of play.
Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich) and Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
A more likely target that Liverpool is definitely interested in signing this summer if a deal can be done, the Daily Mail reports that ‘attention has been turned’ toward a transfer of Ryan Gravenberch.

While Alexis Mac Allister has been the main name discussed lately, there is also a need to get at least one more midfielder in on top of the Argentinean, with Tuttomercato suggesting a price tag of $54m (£43m/€50m) for Gravenberch.

Klopp ‘likes’ the player, according to the report, and Liverpool needs more youthful options to call upon in the center of the pitch as it ‘explores’ the 20-year-old as a Jude Bellingham alternative.