There will hardly be a dry eye at Anfield this Sunday as Liverpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Jurgen Klopp’s final game in charge of the club.
Liverpool fans know this day will come months after Klopp announced his decision to retire in late January, but it is unlikely to sink in until the full-time whistle blows at Anfield this weekend. While the Reds have nothing to play for after a difficult period, motivation will be high to send the German manager off with a victory befitting his legendary status.
Fortunately for Klopp, he has plenty of his first-team stars before choosing his final Liverpool squad. Of course, there will be room for some of his most impressive players in recent years, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Mohamed Salah all bidding farewell to their manager.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up on the final day of the Premier League season.
GK: Alisson – A big part of Liverpool’s success under Klopp, the Brazilian has been busier than expected in recent weeks. He made a crucial stop to deny Aston Villa a stoppage-time winner in their 3-3 draw on Monday.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – Now facing a surprisingly uncertain future at Anfield given his contract situation and interest from Real Madrid, the Liverpool defender is preparing for life with a first-team coach other than Klopp for the first time in his career.
CB: Jarell Quansah – A mixed display against Villa but still produced his first Premier League goal with a fine header. He appears to have jumped ahead of Ibrahima Konate for the nomination, although that could change next season.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – The Liverpool captain has not been at his best in recent weeks, but to suggest that the Dutchman is the cause of his side’s defensive woes would be madness.
LB: Andy Robertson – The Scotsman was missing against Villa but should return to a bit of a comeback this Sunday. He scored in back-to-back games against Molineux and Wolves on the final day of the 2021/22 season at Anfield.
CM: Harvey Elliott – He grabbed another assist against Villa and set up Liverpool’s opener – with an assist from Emiliano Martinez. He has been in excellent form recently and also forced his own goal against Wolves earlier this season.
CM: Wataru Endo – Far from his best against Villa, Endo did not do enough to protect the back four from the speedy attackers and midfielders. However, Liverpool were even more open on the pitch, going on to concede two late strikes.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – Despite his mistake giving Villa a way back into the game last time out, Mac Allister remains a guaranteed starter for the Reds. He will be one of the contenders for the best player award in this team.
RW: Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian has been one of the most transformative figures in the Klopp era with his consistent goals. He has scored five goals against the teams playing on Sunday, four of them at Anfield.
ST: Cody Gakpo – The Dutchman has maintained his excellent form in recent weeks and has now scored in back-to-back games following his arrival at Villa Park. He has 22 goals so far this season – not a bad tally for someone who is considered Liverpool’s fifth-choice striker in August.
LW: Luis Diaz – A wasteful display from Diaz at Villa Park proved frustrating as Liverpool fell behind late on. Could Sunday be the winger’s last game at Anfield amid speculation over his future?
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