Premier League team guide: Liverpool in the spotlight

Liverpool will go into a new season without Champions League football for the first time since 2016-17.

A return to form towards the end of last term was not enough to secure a place in the top four, with Manchester United and Newcastle beating the Reds to the punch.

There will be pressure on Jurgen Klopp to right many of the wrongs from 2022-23, despite a significant summer rebuild on Merseyside.

Last season: Fifth

After recording 92 points, winning 28 games and scoring 94 goals in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, Liverpool slipped dangerously close to mediocrity last time out.

The Reds won only 19 of their 38 outings, tasting defeat on nine occasions — including a 3-0 humbling at Wolves in February.

But there were some hugely positive results too, most notably the 7-0 thrashing of rivals United at Anfield — the Red Devils' heaviest Premier League defeat ever.

Klopp's men also equalled the top-flight record for the biggest winning margin in a single game when they thrashed Bournemouth 9-0 last August.

And star forward Mohamed Salah was among the league's best performers with 19 goals and 12 assists.

New faces

Liverpool are using the summer to completely rebuild their midfield following the departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister was first through the door at Anfield after the 24-year-old Argentine made the switch from Brighton.

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was then snapped up to add an extra attacking dimension to the Reds in the middle of the park.

The silky playmaker, 22, scored 12 goals and assisted 16 more across the last two Bundesliga seasons with RB Leipzig.

His and Mac Allister's productivity in the final third may also soften the blow of Roberto Firmino's departure.

One to watch: Stefan Bajcetic

With Henderson and Fabinho now playing their football in Saudi Arabia, the door is open for Stefan Bajcetic to establish himself as Liverpool's first-choice defensive midfielder.

The 18-year-old broke into the Reds' starting XI last season but saw his progress cruelly curtailed by injury after making 19 appearances in all competitions.

Bajcetic has subsequently not played in pre-season, however, he is said to be close to making a return in time for the start of the new campaign.

A No6 blessed with defensive nous and the ability to dictate the tempo of matches, the ex-Celta Vigo starlet has the natural talent to thrive as one of the main men at a top Premier League club but Klopp may also look to the transfer market.

The boss: Jurgen Klopp

Klopp will be going into his eighth full season as Liverpool boss after replacing Brendan Rodgers in October 2015.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund mastermind has won seven trophies with the Reds, including the Premier League and Champions League.

But adding to his silverware collection in 2023-24 may be a tall order due to the mass exodus of senior players this summer.

Klopp will likely have to tinker his heavy metal brand of football to accommodate the more stylish profiles of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, which could prove beneficial in the long run.

Information correct as of August 4, 2023