Liverpool's current strongest XI - Strengths, weaknesses and what Reds desperately need now

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Even accounting for the absence of the team's World Cup stars, who are yet to make a staggered return to training after some much-needed time off, there are major questions lingering over the makeup of Liverpool's squad going into the new season.These needs must be addressed if the Reds are to achieve their aim of improving on last season's disappointment, ideally by challenging for trophies again - retaining Champions League football should always be the absolute bare minimum for a club of Liverpool's stature.Looking at Liverpool's best starting line-up as things stand, who can Iraola rely on to push the Reds back into contention - and where are reinforcements most urgently needed?Goalkeeper - AlissonThe man between the sticks for Liverpool is one player the Reds can count on. What is worthy of more consideration is who Liverpool have available in reserve, given Alisson has failed to make more than 35 appearances in any of the last three seasons.Cult hero Freddie Woodman has signed a new long-term contract after filling in admirably as third-choice keeper last season, while the big Georgian ahead of him - Giorgi Mamardashvili - is currently expected to stay as backup for another season.Goalkeeper, then, is as close to boxed off as any position in this team gets.Right-back - Jeremie FrimpongJeremie Frimpong wasn't exactly convincing for much of last season, either at right-back or further forward, but as things stand Liverpool have little else in the way of options.Conor Bradley remains out long-term with the knee injury he suffered against Arsenal in January, while Calvin Ramsay is likely to leave on loan or permanently.Joe Gomez could have started the season there, but the injury he picked up inside the first ten minutes of Saturday's friendly doesn't bode well for his chances of being fit for the season opener, or of being a reliable choice as first-choice starter.Frimpong it is then - until further notice.

At least one more signing who is a natural option at centre-back is a must, and they ideally need to be able to play at right-back, too.Left-back - Milos KerkezQuietly Liverpool's best defender for parts of last season, Milos Kerkez hasn't yet shown the levels he reached at Bournemouth under Iraola but overcame a choppy start at Liverpool to provide a solid, if unspectacular, presence at left-back.Ironically, he was then dropped in favour of Andy Robertson for the Scot's final few games as a Liverpool player, but there is really no question this time around as to who will be Iraola's first-choice in the position.Kostas Tsimikas should provide adequate back-up as ever, but it is Kerkez who will be expected to raise his game and contribute more going forward in his second season at Anfield.He is still only 22, and strong showings against the likes of Bukayo Saka and Desire Doue last season demonstrated that Kerkez is more than capable of holding his own in the big games.He should only kick on from here.Central midfielders - Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik SzoboszlaiTwo quality midfielders in Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones miss out on Liverpool's best XI as things stand, although that could still change depending on where Iraola sees Florian Wirtz's best position.In truth, despite a plethora of talent and big names, Liverpool's midfield last season was shaky at the best of times and its component parts were often playing confused roles that failed to get the best out of them.That doesn't excuse the alarming drop in performances seen from the likes of Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in particular, but it does suggest this could be helped by the arrival of a new tactical setup.As things stand, Gravenberch gets the nod over Mac Allister thanks to his greater physicality and ability to advance attacks with his ball-carrying abilities, while Dominik Szoboszlai was Liverpool's unchallenged player of the season last time out.Even so, there is a compelling argument to be made that Liverpool need a player in the centre of midfield who is more instinctively focused on control and shutting out the opposition than the options currently available.Wataru Endo can continue to be an important squad player, with there little sense in selling the experienced former Japan captain for minimal returns, but neither he nor the promising Trey Nyoni are of the level required to start week in, week out.While it isn't quite at the top of the priorities list, Liverpool should stay attentive to the market if a player capable of providing that structure and solidity becomes available.Attacking midfielder - Florian WirtzThis is probably Liverpool's strongest outfield position. Hopefully unlike Havertz, he can go on to show that consistently in England with the right support around him.Don't rule him out for player of the season if everything starts to tick.Right winger - Rio NgumohaThe wings were a major Achilles heel for Liverpool last season, and despite the signing of Victor Munoz that has not yet been addressed.Despite being six year's Munoz's junior, Rio Ngumoha has only made 10 fewer senior appearances (30) than the Spaniard (40), and - vitally - is already a settled part of Liverpool's senior squad.That puts him ahead of Munoz in the pecking order for now, although neither of the pair are right-sided wingers by trade.

Even on the right, he could terrorise full-backs next season with his current rate of development a frightening one.Left winger - Cody GakpoIt seems strange to say of a player in his peak years who has made 180 appearances and scored 50 goals for Liverpool, but Cody Gakpo is a major question mark in this starting line-up.Despite a promising start under Jurgen Klopp and some big contributions during the title-winning 2024/25 season, Gakpo's 32 goals and 18 assists from 127 Premier League appearances isn't a stellar record and at times last season he was completely ineffective on the left flank.His position should come under threat from Munoz and Ngumoha - particularly if another top-class winger is signed to play primarily from the right - and Gakpo, to his credit, has typically responded well to competition.Rumours have circulated that the Dutchman isn't untouchable this summer, but there's no getting away from the fact that Gakpo is currently Liverpool's highest-calibre winger and could still play an important squad role next season.No player in the current Liverpool squad has scored more for the club than Gakpo, but that is arguably more of an indication of the importance of this summer's recruitment than of an especially prolific record in front of goal.If Gakpo is first-choice again, serious questions will remain over his ability to deliver consistently at the highest level - barring one of the most dramatic redemption arcs seen at Liverpool in recent years.Striker - Alexander IsakAlexander Isak is the great unknown in this team, as Liverpool's fortunes will likely depend on how well the Swede is able to recover the levels shown at Newcastle that convinced Liverpool to make him the most expensive player in English football history.At his best, Isak is a prolific striker among the best in the world, but he has been a shadow of that since joining Liverpool last summer. Six of those players are still on annual leave and Jacquet has been wrapped in cotton wool as no risks are taken with the shoulder injury he picked up shortly after agreeing his Liverpool move in the winter window.Once those players are back, even without any transfers to make up the numbers, it's a starting XI that should still get the better of most teams in the Premier League.The proof will be in the pudding, and there are (still) major concerns over the right side of the defence and the chemistry of the attack, but Liverpool would be favourites against the Magpies all the same even if they lined up with that team.Needless to say, though, football is about far more than just your first 11 players in the modern era, and Liverpool's squad is severely undercooked; that needs to change if the Reds are to feel confident of avoiding a genuinely disastrous season this time out, having narrowly escaped a damaging finish outside the Champions League places last season.The targets for this campaign will be completely defined by the business that gets done between now and the end of the summer.