Earns more than Alisson: FSG must cash in on "struggling" Liverpool star

It’s fair to say Liverpool’s 2024/25 campaign has exceeded expectations, with Arne Slot leading the Reds to a multi-front title charge.

Liverpool might have suffered the ignominy of a giant-killing defeat in the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle, but they are into the Carabao Cup final and hold a slender one-goal advantage over Paris Saint-Germain after the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.

Oh, the Merseysiders are also 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, with favourable results over the next few weeks all but confirming Liverpool as Champions Elect.

Harvey Elliott may have landed the knockout punch in Paris this week, but Alisson Becker absorbed innumerable blows to score an incredible victory for out-of-sorts Liverpool.

Slot, to whom Alisson is “the best goalkeeper in the world,” knows he’s got it good in the goalkeeping department, with a world-class superstar between the sticks bailing his subpar players out.

But the gloved Redmen also present FSG with something of a quandary.

Liverpool’s goalkeeping conundrum

Alisson was redoubtable against PSG. Liverpool’s outfield crop were a shambles on the ball and desperate in keeping the French at bay when out of possession – which was the lion’s share of the contest.

He truly is the finest the game has to offer between the posts, but aged 32 and suffering from persistent injury problems over the past few years, Alisson isn’t providing the Reds with an immovable figure between the sticks – not across the span of a many-game campaign.

Incredibly, Alisson’s injury issues haven’t been too keenly felt by the Merseysiders, for Caoimhin Kelleher is “the best No. 2 in the world” – according to Jurgen Klopp – but such a player is within their rights to push for a more prominent role.

Kelleher has unabashedly admitted he hopes to leave in the summer ahead of the culminating year of his deal, and who could blame him?

Liverpool only welcomed Federico Chiesa to Slot’s first-team squad last year, but a deal worth £29m for Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili has been agreed and he links up with the Premier League side ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool need to sell Kelleher, then let Alisson and his Georgian counterpart jockey for the prime place.

Kelleher isn’t the only star who may be on the move ahead of their final year on the books. Indeed, there’s a modern legend in a similar position. But he’s struggling and it might be time to let him leave for pastures new.

FSG could boldly sell Liverpool stalwart

Slot and his transfer team have got much to sort out this summer. The ‘big three’ are all still non-committal on the contract front, but they aren’t the only stars who may need replacing.

With Liverpool supposedly scouring the market for a new left-back, Andy Robertson faces an uncertain future having failed to produce his finest football.

Robertson is only 30 years old but he’s sure to be suffering some wear-and-tear after many years in Klopp’s full-throttle system. Once hailed as a “Duracell Bunny” by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott, the Tartan Army general’s batteries may be running on empty.

Candidly, Robertson’s positioning and lack of pace have led to some alarming situations this term. As per Sofascore, he’s averaging 0.1 successful dribbles per game. Or in other words, Robertson’s on course to complete less than four dribbles across the entirety of the season.

This has in turn affected his innate creative ability. Indeed, Robertson is heading toward his first-ever Premier League season with the Anfield side having failed to register a single goal involvement, though there’s still time yet.

Broadcaster Nubaid Haroon even suggested earlier in the campaign that Liverpool should place Joe Gomez back in the left-back berth he moonlit in so well last season while Robertson was injured, noting the Scotsman was “struggling” in the early phase of Slot’s project.

Sadly, Liverpool’s long-serving stalwart has struggled to rekindle his finest form, and it’s beginning to look like he may face an insurmountable obstacle in reaching such a level again at Anfield.

Of course, if Liverpool were to part with Robertson, a suitable long-term successor would be required. Kostas Tsimikas, 28, is an able deputy but with a mean cross and composed passing skills, he’s almost a lite version of Liverpool’s first-choice left-back.

As such, FSG are looking to complete a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, 21, who has been one of the standout young stars in English football this term.

Given the £160k-per-week Robertson is earning even more than Alisson (£150k-per-week), who is still at the very top of his game, it’s hard to justify his continued place in the team – especially if an up-and-coming talent such as Kerkez is taken into Slot’s plans.

Some tough decisions lie ahead, but if other, more worrying contracts are to be renewed, perhaps the earnings that Robertson takes home might be better redistributed elsewhere.

Those aforementioned ‘big three’ are the only Liverpool players to bank more than the Scotland captain, who is sadly starting to struggle to repay that on the field.

Of course, his experience and age may prevent Liverpool from claiming a hefty fee for his services. Perhaps they will wish for him to run his deal down instead, thus leaving Tsimikas to face the axe.

In any case, this wonderful player is approaching the twilight stage of his Liverpool career, and what a ride it’s been.

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