Liverpool news: Jamie Carragher predicts summer of squad change at Anfield

By Simon Wilkes

Jamie Carragher thinks Arne Slot will make sweeping changes to his Liverpool squad this summer – and feels they need to add some ‘pace’ to their attacking options.

Liverpool have endured a difficult week, having been dumped out of the Champions League by  Paris Saint-Germain and then tasted defeat to Newcastle United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley in London.

The upcoming international break gives Slot and his players some time to rest and reflect, and they return to Premier League action on April 2 with a home clash against Everton at Anfield.

Well placed in league

The Reds are 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table after 29 games, so are well set to be crowned Kings of England come May.

But there is uncertainty over the futures of star players Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could all leave the Merseyside giants for free when their contracts expire at the end of June.

Salah has been a leading light for Liverpool this season, having been responsible for a league-high 63.8 per cent of all their goal involvements.

Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have scored once once so far in 2025 while big-money signing Darwin Nunez has netted three times this year, meaning if teams nullify Salah like Newcastle managed to on Sunday, the Reds sometimes struggle to get on the scoresheet.

READ MORE: Newcastle ‘deserved to win’ Carabao Cup final, admits Liverpool boss Arne Slot

Squad rebuild

Liverpool legend Carragher feels Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have a massive squad rebuild on their hands in the 2025 summer transfer window.

And he told Sky Sports: “The lack of pace in the team is glaring in the attack. 

“I feel a bit sorry for Salah. He has taken a bit of stick in the last games against PSG, but he doesn’t get help off the other attackers.

“The other attackers Liverpool have got are good players, not great players. Liverpool need to buy two attackers. Not squad players, but players to hopefully play alongside Salah.”

Reported targets

Liverpool have reportedly been linked with summer bids for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton star Joao Pedro.

And rumours suggest that Slot might be prepared to sell Jota, Nunez, Diaz and Federico Chiesa, who has failed to impress since moving to Merseyside from Juventus at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Carragher also thinks the midfield department needs some new blood, with Slot being heavily reliant on Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai so far this season.

No faith in back-up players

Curtis Jones seems to have Slot’s faith, but the same cannot be said for back-up players Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott, who have struggled for minutes on the pitch.

“I don’t think he [Slot] has any time for four or five players in that squad,” said Carragher on The Overlap Fan Debate. 

“And the fact that he didn’t change players at home to Southampton between the PSG games – against one of the worst teams ever in the Premier League – I can accept that this season as this isn’t really his squad, but next season I’m sure he’ll bring players in.

“He needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger.”

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