The burning questions Liverpool simply must answer during summer transfer window

Liverpool fans were probably left with a lot of questions at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Questions like, ‘what the hell happened?’, and ‘does that mean I have to keep every Thursday night free for the next year?’.

It was a season that baffled because of how ceaselessly ordinary it was. This was not the Jurgen Klopp hug juggernaut (huggernaut?) that we have become accustomed to in recent times. Instead, the Reds toiled and tripped their way through the early stages of the campaign before steadying themselves enough to salvage some, if not quite enough, pride.

And now, the general consensus is that they need a huge, huge summer. But what exactly will that look like, and what other questions are there still left to be answered?

We’ve taken a closer look below...

What is going on in midfield?

The eternal question, and the one that arguably needs answering more than any other. Liverpool’s midfield has been a perpetual bone of contention in recent times, and its easy to see why. Jordan Henderson and James Milner - who, of course, has just joined Brighton - are perceived by many to have passed beyond their best years, Naby Keita has struggled to show that he ever had any best years to move beyond, Fabinho dips in and out of form on a whim, Thiago Alcantara dips in and out of fitness with a similar regularity, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones still have a lot to learn, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is, to all intents and purposes, missing in action.

A big change has been needed for a while, and this summer surely has to be the point at which that transition is hastened. The arrival of Alexis Mac Allister is a wonderful start, but more is undoubtedly needed.

What is Trent Alexander-Arnold?

I don’t mean that to sound as rude as it does, but it’s a question that links in to the continued uncertainty surrounding Liverpool’s midfield. Towards the end of the season, Jurgen Klopp began to experiment with giving Alexander-Arnold a more complex role that essentially allowed him to act as a kind of full-back/midfielder hybrid. It was a great success, so much so that it has raised queries as to whether or not he could be permanently employed in a more advanced position in the future.

While the Reds’ transfer business won’t definitively answer that question, the signing of an additional right-back, and perhaps an absence of other midfield recruits, could go quite a long way towards giving us a hint.

Who do they trust alongside Virgil van Dijk?

Even in the midst of his recent wobbles, Virgil van Dijk remains untouchable. He is the ballast that keeps this Liverpool side stable, and he shall continue to be that for the foreseeable future. Who should partner him, however, is less clear.

Ibrahima Konate is the most obvious long term option, and the Frenchman has impressed at times during his stint at Anfield, but there are still question marks here and there. Likewise, Joel Matip has shown his quality on countless occasions, but he spent most of last season languishing on the bench and doesn’t feel as trusted as he once was. Then there is Joe Gomez, who has played 90 minutes in the Premier League just once since February.

Taking all of that into account, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Liverpool to pursue defensive reinforcements this summer, and if they do, it would make sense for them to try and sign a player with the requisite quality to challenge for a starting berth.

How long can Caoimhin Kelleher be kept hidden away?

Caoimhin Kelleher is a fine goalkeeper, not that he often gets to showcase his talents. With Alisson Becker between the sticks at Anfield, it has proven difficult for the Irishman to get a look in beyond the odd cup run here and there. But how much longer can that go on?

According to various reports, there is interest in the 24-year-old, and as he begins to enter the prime of his career, you have to start wondering whether or not he will be truly satisfied with a watching brief for vast swathes of the season. He doesn’t seem like the kind who would agitate for a move, but equally, Liverpool can’t keep him under lock and key forever.

Will they break their recent habit?

In windows gone by, Liverpool have generally stuck to a policy of making one barnstormer of a signing before nibbling away with the odd cheap deal here and there. You get the impression that if they are to properly reestablish themselves as a dominant force next season, however, they might need to stretch to a smattering of high calibre acquisitions who can make an immediate impact.

As mentioned above, Mac Allister is one, but supporters will be eager/nervous (delete as applicable) to see whether the relevant boardroom pencil pushers sanction other signings of his ilk. Next season’s silverware hopes could hinge on it.