Here’s every Liverpool midfielder ranked by their likely contribution this season. The Reds reportedly won’t sign anyone new.
The Athletic suggests that Liverpool will not sign a new midfielder this month, despite an injury to Thiago. They’ll stick with what they’ve got, relying on current options to improve and step up for them.
That’s despite rampant speculation in recent days that Liverpool could enter the market. So if this is the move, let’s have a look at what they’ve got and their likely contributions this season. Here’s every Liverpool midfielder ranked.
Every Liverpool midfielder ranked
1. Fabinho
We’re putting Fabinho at the top of the list and there’s not really any other argument. For one, he’s the only natural option that Liverpool have for their holding midfield role.
On top of that, Fabinho is a world-class player who’s reasonably reliable fitness-wise. We know he’s going to deliver elite performances this season in a role that no one else masters. Everyone else has a question mark over them – but not the Brazilian.
2. Jordan Henderson
We know this will be the most controversial choice of the lot but it’s the reality. Henderson will play every important game this season, fitness allowing, and Liverpool are unquestionably stronger with him in the XI.
Their record with Henderson compared to without is eye-opening, for one. He brings leadership, consistency and work rate that few can match. There’s a reason Thiago rates him so highly and why Jurgen Klopp calls on him every single time.
3. Thiago
Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago are Liverpool’s first-choice midfielders and naturally sit at the top of this list. The sole reason Thiago is third and not first or second is his injury record. Now, Henderson’s isn’t great either but the Spaniard really struggles to stay fit.
In fact, he’s already injured. We’re basing this list on their contribution this season and Thiago is already going to miss five games, two of which are away at Manchester United and Everton. He could even miss the trip to Chelsea, too.
That simply limits his impact on the season – but he’s still going to have a major say.
4. Harvey Elliott
This is where it really starts to get tricky but we’re going with Harvey Elliott in fourth. We think he’s going to have a massive season and his general fitness makes him one of the more reliable players. When he hasn’t got a broken ankle, of course.
We’re already seeing how Klopp plans to use him differently this season, too. If he improves at the rate we think he will, Elliott will be a key player by the end of the campaign.
5. Naby Keita
We have no idea where to put Naby Keita here. If he was as reliable as pretty much anyone else on this list, he’d be in the top three. As it is, who knows what we’re going to get? So we’ve gone for fifth. Again, though, he could be three places in either direction come May.
Jamie Carragher labelled Keita ‘the strangest player’ that he’s ever seen. That about sums him up. If he manages to stay fit and finds some rhythm, the Guinean could have a massive season. If not, he could fall behind most on this list.
The next six weeks are massive.
6. James Milner
James Milner turns 37 this season but Liverpool still rely on him. That’s not a good thing for the club but it is for the player. He’ll get important games this season as someone Klopp can properly count on.
Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean as a midfielder. Milner can cover the full-back roles, too, and we imagine he will play a couple of games there this season.
As for midfield, he’s not going to produce as much magic as some. He’s unquestionably one to count on, though.
7. Fabio Carvalho
A very, very difficult one to predict. Fabio Carvalho clearly has immense talent but we don’t know how well he’ll cope in the Premier League yet. We’re also not 100% sure how often he’ll be a midfielder.
Liverpool will give him opportunities, though, and extra focus on attacking midfielders this season should benefit him. With a bit of luck, he’ll end up much higher on this list in no time at all.
8. Curtis Jones
We really like Curtis Jones and this is a big season for him. But he really needs to kick on this season if he’s going to consistently get games. Unfortunately, absences keep popping up and robbing him of momentum at the wrong times.
So while he’s maybe got the talent of Elliott or Carvalho, he’s far more likely to spend time on the sidelines this season. Jones has the ability to turn things around quickly but he’s going to face more of a struggle than most at Liverpool.
9. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a really good spell in the side last season. Then he fell out of the picture and we barely saw him over the second half of the campaign.
What he needed was a great pre-season that handed him some momentum and got him back in the mix. What he got instead was yet another injury that keeps him out for months. It’s hard to see a way back.
We can’t write off Oxlade-Chamberlain breaking into the Liverpool team as he’s done it before. But he’s certainly a way off everyone else on this list right now. In a contract year, it makes his future very questionable.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
