Liverpool have enjoyed a successful start to the 2023/23 campaign – following a major rebuild of Jurgen Klopp’s squad during the summer transfer window.
The club welcomed new additions in the form of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Hungarian star Dominik Szoboszlai, Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and Japanese international Wataru Endo before the close of the window. That represented a £150m spend on new additions in the centre of the park.
And incomings that were desperately needed within the midfield for the Liverpool boss, following the departures of long-term servants Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner.
Jordan HendersonJordan Henderson
The former Liverpool captain accepted a lucrative offer to join Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, with the player recording four assists across his opening eight league appearances for his new club, who sit in seventh place within the table.
However Henderson’s popularity in the football world has plummeted, with the midfielder booed after captaining England against Australia on Sunday evening. He now plays in the 35,000 seater Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd Stadium, in front of average attendances this season of around 7,000.
Fabinho
Another Liverpool midfielder who cut his time at Anfield short in favour of a big-money offer from Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old endured a drop-off in form for the Reds last season and chose to make the move to Al-Itihhad, who pursued Mohamed Salah heavily throughout the summer.
He’s made eleven appearances for his new club across all competitions, and was even gifted a Rolex watch by a Saudi Arabian fan after making his debut for them back in August.
Roberto Firmino
The 32-year-old fan favourite left the club by mutual consent at the end of his latest deal on Merseyside, with the Brazilian securing a free transfer to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli SFC shortly after.
His new side currently sit in fifth place, ahead of Henderson’s Al-Ettifaq but behind Fabinho’s Al-Itihhad in fourth, with the player already recording three goals and two assists to his name.
Naby Keita
Keita’s time at Anfield was plagued by injury and his misfortune has continued at Werder Bremen, after returning to the Bundesliga on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old has made just three appearances for the German club, after suffering a tear in the abductor muscle shortly after joining. He was struck down with injury again recently after making his first start for his new club.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Despite being linked with a Premier League switch to Aston Villa, the former England international joined Turkish giants Besiktas on a three-year-deal.
He has made 10 appearances across all competitions for his new side, scoring one goal in the process, as he looks close the gap on Süper Lig leaders Fenerbahçe, who currently hold an eight point lead on them.
James Milner
The Premier League veteran ticked another team off the list after joining Brighton and Hove Albion as a free agent this summer. Milner, 37, has made six appearances for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in both the top flight of English football and Europa League, with the club currently experiencing a dip in form following a 6-1 defeat to Villa. He missed the draw with Liverpool last weekend.
Van den Berg now finds himself at Klopp’s former side Mainz 05, who are struggling in the Bundesliga, as they sit in the relegation zone after the opening seven games. The Liverpool loanee has started five of these fixtures.
Calvin Ramsay
Ramsay has followed in the footsteps of van den Berg, after joining Preston on loan for the upcoming season. However, is yet to make his debut for the club after being sidelined with a severe knee injury since August.
Nat Phillips
Phillips, 26, is yet to make a huge impact while on loan at Scottish giants Celtic, with just one start to his name in the SPL since arriving this summer. He did feature in the recent 2-1 loss to Lazio in the Champions League, although was hooked at the 60-minute mark by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
Rhys Williams
Williams, 22, is another player who went in search of further experiences at the highest level after spending last season at Blackpool. He now finds himself at Aberdeen, where he is yet to make a league appearance for the club with persistent back and calf problems sidelining the young defender.
