Jurgen Klopp’s final year as Liverpool’s manager has come to an end. It’s time to take stock and evaluate the team’s standout performers in a season full of highs and lows. As the season concludes, the much-anticipated yearly review of Liverpool’s best players is now online and some players may surprise you with their contributions.
10. Andrew Robertson
Andrew Robertson is still the same player he was a few years ago, proof of his remarkable consistency. Although he hasn’t been as involved offensively this season as he was in previous years due to changes in the midfield dynamics, there is no doubt that Robertson is a top-tier player.
He has proven to be reliable, diligently doing his job, and scoring three goals in the process. He has been frequently involved in progressing the ball down the left wing and has been one of Liverpool’s most solid players.
9. Harvey Elliott
This is another case of an academy graduate breaking through, although he has been with the first team for a while. Harvey Elliott’s role has been versatile – often playing on the wings but also not hesitating to cut inside when needed. He has even filled in midfield roles on occasion.
Despite facing tough competition, Elliott’s tally of three goals and six assists is rather impressive. Elliott has improved in the last months, often dropping solid performances. Perhaps not the flashiest, but reliable and effective, therefore justifying his spot in this ranking.
8. Luis Diaz
This is not Luis Diaz’s first season with Liverpool, yet he has struggled with consistency. He showed improvement towards the latter stages of the campaign but faced difficulties during the most important months of January and February.
Diaz played 35 games, scoring eight goals and providing five assists – respectable figures, although more is expected from the Colombian. However, nobody would blame him for his lack of consistency, given the significant personal turmoil he experienced with the kidnapping and eventual release of his father, which undoubtedly took a heavy mental toll.
At 27, Diaz should be in his prime – but external factors hindered his ability to fully focus on football. Next season, however, bigger things are expected from him.
7. Cody Gakpo
He might have been the victim of various criticisms, but there is no doubt that Gakpo’s season is far from terrible.
Starting in over thirty games, he scored eight goals while assisting five. Gakpo remains an intriguing talent, but where he should play remains somewhat unclear. It would be foolish to think he can be nailed down as a regular player in the attacking third without adequate support to play between the lines.
Unfortunately for him, Liverpool rarely provided this support. However,he managed to carve out a role for himself despite all the uncertainties. The fact that he has gathered praise from the gaffer speaks volumes about his quality.
6. Jarell Quansah
The world has not paid much attention to his rise – due to the fierce competition surrounding him. While Konaté deserves his share of applause, Quansah’s ascent is equally impressive.
He stepped into a team that lacks the defensive mechanisms to remain stable for most of the game (as Liverpool has been trailing behind in many games). In 17 games, the world has not witnessed many mistakes from the 21-year-old.
One of Klopp’s major impacts on the club has been the introduction of more academy graduates – and Quansah is yet another example.
5. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Few players remain as consistent as Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold. With three goals and two assists, he continues to be one of the most creative players. As a right-back, one might assume his role consists of solely patrolling the right wing.
However, Arnold is one of these inverted full-backs, who constantly stray away from the wings and prefer moving towards the center. While this tactical shift might have occasionally exposed gaps in Liverpool’s defense, his offensive contributions should be applauded.
Although this season might not have been his best, it is far from a failure.
4. Dominik Szoboszlai
There is one player who arrived with the highest expectations – Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. At the time, Liverpool was in dire need of midfield reinforcements, and Szoboszlai exemplified immediate adaptation, even though he struggled to maintain consistency throughout the season.
He may have only scored three goals and assisted two, but his impact was undeniable, consistently posing a threat in the box.
Liverpool’s title charge came as a result of his great run in the first half of the season. It’s also worth noting that the Hungarian is only 23 years old. Making the leap from the Bundesliga to the Premier League at such a young age is more than impressive.
3. Virgil Van Dijk
No player list consisting of Liverpool’s best players is complete without the Dutch Wonder. He is a gift that keeps on giving and remains at the top of his game. While Liverpool might have struggled defensively throughout the season, it is clear that without van Dijk, things would have been far worse.
His reputation as a defender and his unique style of delaying the last challenge continue to perplex opponents. There is no doubt about his pivotal role in the team’s defense.
2. Mohammed Salah
It might seem like an obvious choice, but one can’t overlook Liverpool’s eternal Pharaoh. The Egyptian forward scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists – reaching double digits in both categories is no small feat. Salah might not have been in the spotlight this season, but he remains as reliable as ever.
He is also the only forward in the lineup without any major troubles. Liverpool’s #11 had to cope with injuries affecting his fellow attackers, not to mention the ongoing struggles of Darwin Núñez to find the back of the net consistently.
When everything is chaotic, the Egyptian remains calm – and for that alone, he deserves to be at the top.
1. Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister is undoubtedly the signing of the season. When he arrived, Liverpool needed a few signings in the midfield – he consistently adapted whenever injuries or other factors sidelined his teammates.
Critics doubted his ability to play as a pivot or questioned his role. However, whenever he played, he was essential to the team’s build-up, which is his primary task.
In 33 games, the Argentinian midfielder scored five goals and provided five assists. His offensive impact is undeniable.
