Liverpool could field a new-look first XI if they get their way on transfer deadline day, with Bradley Barcola finally signing from PSG and a move for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh potentially replacing Mohamed Salah on the right wing.
The Reds have drawn 2-2 with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in their opening two Premier League games, but head coach Andoni Iraola has found two confident youngsters in Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. Barcola should also fit into Iraola's plans after the Frenchman signed from PSG.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Alisson Becker, who joined in August 2018, remains the club's first-choice goalkeeper at 33 despite Giorgi Mamardashvili deputising to varying degrees of success. The club are closing in on a £30m deal for 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans, although he is expected to remain in Belgium for the forthcoming campaign.
French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, bought from Rennes in January for £60m, appears to be Virgil van Dijk's new defensive partner after starting the first two games. With Conor Bradley expected to be out for some time after an injury against Arsenal late last season, Jeremie Frimpong will continue at right-back, though his performances will have to pick up after a lacklustre start.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been touted by some fans to resume at right-back after deputising last season, but Iraola so far fancies the No. 8 in the centre of the pitch. On the other side, Milos Kerkez will be the undisputed starting left-back following Andy Robertson's departure.
Midfield Options
The central duo for Iraola perhaps picks itself as Ryan Gravenberch fits in alongside Szoboszlai, with the Dutchman sitting slightly deeper in his typical No. 6 role. Although Gravenberch was dropped for Saturday's draw with Forest after gifting two goals away against the Magpies a week earlier.
Ahead of those two will be Florian Wirtz, with the German given a licence to roam and link up with the front three, as he did to decent effect against Forest in the 2-2 draw. Alexis Mac Allister can rival Gravenberch for the central midfield spot, but the Reds are not thought to be interested in addressing their engine room further in this window, despite Curtis Jones's departure to Inter Milan.
Stefan Bajcetic is also believed to be close to leaving on a permanent deal, while Harvey Elliott is reportedly exiting on loan to Valencia. That leaves Wataru Endo, currently injured, as well as James McConnell and Trey Nyoni to pad out Iraola's central unit.
Attack and Salah Successor
The duo of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak is yet to ignite thanks to injuries, and that partnership still won't shine until Ekitike makes a full recovery from a ruptured Achilles. Isak, who scored his first goal of the season at the weekend against Forest, will be flanked by new signing Barcola on the left, with Cody Gakpo's pending departure to Manchester City surely just a matter of time.
Barcola's understudy will be teenage star Rio Ngumoha. On the right, it appears to be a choice between Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The Reds are yet to replace Mohamed Salah on that side, and Minteh has been of strong interest. At the moment, Sarr looks the most likely with the Reds testing Palace with a £50m offer so far. However, in a dream scenario, the Reds would prefer to sign Minteh despite having had two bids for the Gambian international rejected.
Liverpool's dream XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Barcola, Minteh, Isak.
