Liverpool have plenty of forwards to choose from as they head into the 2021/22 season. We have a go at ranking them.
Right now, Jurgen Klopp has at least 10 forwards to choose from at Liverpool. It’s quite the number and while they won’t all be at Anfield next season, he still has some deciding to do.
So we’ll have a go at doing it for him. Here are how we rank all 10 forwards at Liverpool.
We’ve split them into categories and then ranked them within those ‘tiers’. Let’s have a look at what Klopp’s working with.
Elite forwards
1. Mohamed Salah
Undoubtedly the top dog at Liverpool going forward. 22 goals in the Premier League, 31 in all competitions despite all the team struggles. A miraculous campaign.
2. Sadio Mane
Mane wasn’t at his best last season but everyone will back him to improve. A world-class player with a proven record. Few can do what he can.
3. Roberto Firmino
Like Mane, Firmino didn’t have a great season. But again like Mane, we’ve seen too much over the years to worry.
4. Diogo Jota
The new boy had a better season than the two ahead of him here. But he didn’t quite show enough to overhaul them in our minds. He’s got to win some trophies – or blow them out of the water – before we move him up.
Still, Jota proved himself to be a fantastic forward that Liverpool can rely on.
Useful options
5. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
No remaining option on this list has reached the regular heights of Oxlade-Chamberlain – he just can’t stay fit. The talk is that he could play as a forward next season and if he does, fitness will be key.
He’ll be a very useful option if he stays fit.
6. Xherdan Shaqiri
We’ve never seen the best of Shaqiri at Liverpool. He just doesn’t get regular minutes to show his quality. At times, though he looks magic and he’s a great bench option – when fit.
It does sound as though he’s leaving, however.
7. Divock Origi
Origi barely plays. When he does, though, the Belgian boasts a pretty good record. Unquestionably a legend for his Champions League efforts, Origi has a special place at Liverpool but it’s one that might not last long.
Klopp doesn’t appear to trust him all that much and it’s possible he continues to slide down this list if he stays. He’s another who may well leave.
Questionable players
8. Harvey Elliott
There’s an argument that Elliott should be up a few places. Right now, however, we still haven’t seen him perform at the top level.
But if Elliott sticks around this season, a few good performances will sky-rocket him up this list. Anything like his form with Blackburn Rovers would be a lot to shout about.
9. Takumi Minamino
Minamino has performed at a far higher level than Elliott, thriving with RB Salzburg in the Champions League. Only, it was nearly two years ago now.
It remains to be seen if Minamino can make it at Liverpool. It’s some time since he last regularly played well and there’s a growing sense that things won’t work out. But maybe this is the year?
10. Taiwo Awoniyi
Awoniyi is by far the least-proven player on this list. But then, he’s also the only one to never played for Liverpool, despite being on the books for some time now.
It would be a shock if he made it with the Reds. Still, stranger things have happened – last season proved that.
Click here for a similar look at the Liverpool centre-backs.
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