Liverpool squad depth assessed - where Andoni Iraola needs to strengthen in transfer market

One of the major concerns last season for Liverpool was the depth of Arne Slot 's squad. Despite a summer chock-full of eye-catching arrivals, plenty of players also went the other way out of the door at the AXA Training Centre and the Reds were left light in several key areas. It left the Dutchman with a squad that was, being generous, imbalanced . Being especially critical, you could make the case that it was a squad completely unequipped to compete on four fronts. The departure of Mohamed Salah has been offset by the arrival of Victor Munoz - at least in terms of numbers of bodies - but plenty more needs to be done before the Reds are ready for the start of the new season. Supporters will hope that Andoni Iraola continues his strong record at Bournemouth of elevating members of the wider squad through clever man management and training, and the new manager will also be looking to assess all of his current players over the course of pre-season. With that in mind, we've assessed all of Liverpool's options in every position to see where they're well-covered and where reinforcements must be prioritised. Senior options: Alisson Becker , Giorgi Mamardashvili , Freddie Woodman, Vitezslav Jaros Youth options: Harvey Davies, Armin Pecsi, Kornel Misciur Liverpool has a hugely well-stocked goalkeeping department thanks to the expectation that first-choice No. 1 Alisson will stay to see out the final year of his contract, despite interest from Juventus. Giorgi Mamardashvili is a talented shot-stopper who proved his value at Valencia and for the Georgian national team, and he will need to show more of these credentials than he did last season if Alisson Becker picks up any further injuries, which sadly feels more inevitable every passing season. Freddie Woodman, a shrewd signing from Preston last summer, performed admirably when he was drafted in to cover for both Alisson and Mamardashvili in the latter part of last season, and is a more-than-capable third-choice in the Liverpool net. Vitezslav Jaros, meanwhile, will back himself to rise up the pecking order after a strong loan at Ajax was cruelly ended by a serious knee injury. The injury came at the worst time, seeing the Czech miss out on the World Cup and likely denying him the chance to make an impression on Iraola in pre-season, but the 24-year-old should provide valuable cover when he returns. Kornel Misciur will be expected to continue with the Under-21s, while Hungarian Armin Pecsi could get an opportunity on loan. Harvey Davies was recalled from a loan to Crawley Town midway through last season and it's possible he could look for a permanent move to kickstart his career, despite signing a new contract last summer and being involved in 18 matchday squads to date. With Alisson still set to depart next season, a new arrival as a long-term replacement is an outside possibility if Mamardashvili is unhappy with spending another season proving himself as back-up, but this looks unlikely. Priority rating: 1/5 Senior options: Conor Bradley , Jeremie Frimpong , Joe Gomez , Jeremy Jacquet Youth options: Calvin Ramsay, Isaac Mabaya, Lucas Pitt Right-back is an area that Liverpool are reportedly open to strengthening, despite a strong pair of first-choice options in Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong. However, the availability of these two players proved to be an issue last season, with minor injuries affecting both before Bradley suffered a serious, season-ending knee injury against Arsenal. It is unclear as of yet when Bradley will return, leaving Joe Gomez as the only other proven senior option in the position - without resorting to playing midfielders in the role, as was seen for much of last season to the detriment of the rest of the team. Jeremy Jacquet has played right-back on occasion in his young career to date, but the Frenchman has been signed as a long-term solution in the centre of defence and will be looking to stake his claim to start alongside Virgil van Dijk on the opening day of the Premier League season. Looking at the youth ranks, Lucas Pitt has played right-back regularly for Liverpool U21s and has also featured on the other side of defence, but is yet to make a matchday squad for the senior team. Calvin Ramsay and Isaac Mabaya must now be registered as senior players if they are to play a role for Liverpool's first team in the coming season, which looks unlikely. Ramsay was overlooked when the Reds were short in the position last season and could be moved on. Mabaya, meanwhile, suffered a serious injury last year on loan at Wigan Athletic, denying him a full season of development, but is expected to be back fit for the start of pre-season. Priority rating: 3/5 FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page Senior options: Virgil van Dijk , Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni Youth options: Mor Talla Ndiaye, Wellity Lucky, Prince Cisse, Noah Adekoya, Amara Nallo, Ifeanyi Ndukwe Liverpool suddenly look very short at centre-back after the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid. The Reds went through the majority of last season with just three options in the centre of defence in van Dijk, Konate and Gomez after the ACL injury to Giovanni Leoni and questions remain over the depth in this position. Leoni, who impressed in his one appearance to date against Southampton in the League Cup , has returned from injury and will play a role in pre-season preparations with a view to staking his claim alongside new arrival Jacquet. Gomez is a versatile option who can be relied on to fill in effectively when fit, but his availability remains patchy. Another senior arrival would therefore be a wise move to avoid putting too much pressure too soon on the promising duo of Jacquet and Leoni - though Liverpool have not yet been reported to be prioritising reinforcements in this position. Youth options include new arrival Mor Talla Ndiaye, Wellity Lucky and Djibril Cisse's son, Prince. Noah Adekoya joined from Burnley in January but was dropped from the U21s starting line-up in March, and unlike Ndiaye he is yet to make a matchday squad. Amara Nallo and the new signing Ifeanyi Ndukwe are expected to be offered the opportunity to gain a season of senior experience out on loan. Priority rating: 4/5 Senior options: Milos Kerkez , Kostas Tsimikas , Joe Gomez Youth options: Calum Scanlon, Clae Ewing, Luke Chambers, Owen Beck Long-serving left-back Andy Robertson departed for Spurs on the expiry of his contract this summer, leaving Milos Kerkez as the uncontested first choice in the position. He is due to be supported by returning Roma loanee Kostas Tsimikas, with Joe Gomez also able to fill in the position where he first impressed for Liverpool upon signing from Charlton at the age of 18. Calum Scanlon is still available as an U21/UEFA List B option as he won't turn 22 until February next year, which can't be said for Luke Chambers and Owen Beck. Chambers is expected to go out on loan again having featured regularly for Charlton in the second half of last season, while Beck has struggled with his fitness on consecutive loans at Blackburn and Derby. Clae Ewing is the next in line from the academy, having featured regularly in the Premier League 2 last season. A new arrival could be worthwhile if the player can offer more serious competition than Tsimikas, but Liverpool may choose to avoid further upheaval if they can help it. Priority rating: 2/5 Senior options: Wataru Endo , Trey Nyoni, Ryan Gravenberch , Alexis Mac Allister , James McConnell, Curtis Jones Youth options: Ben Trueman, Michael Laffey, Stefan Bajcetic A specialist senior No.6 in the right age bracket is something Liverpool sorely lacks. Ryan Gravenberch was a revelation with his unorthodox interpretation of the role in Slot's first season, but looked a shadow of himself in a more expansive defensive midfield role last season and may well play as more of a No. 8 going forward. Wataru Endo's quality and dedication is admirable and the Japanese has proven himself to be effective in a 'closer' role, but he is now 33 and has never cemented himself as a regular starter. Alexis Mac Allister has never been a natural fit for the role and struggled physically for much of last season. He and Curtis Jones are considered among the most realistic sales for Liverpool this summer, as is Stefan Bajcetic, who has suffered from a string of fitness complaints since his impressive breakthrough under Jurgen Klopp . James McConnell is expected to receive offers to head out on loan again, leaving unproven U21s Ben Trueman and Michael Laffey as the only other remaining options in the position. Depending on how Iraola chooses to approach his midfield, a specialist may be in order to solve one of Liverpool's most obvious squad weaknesses. Priority rating: 3/5 Senior options: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni, Dominik Szoboszlai Youth options: Kyle Kelly, Afolami Onanuga, Tommy Pilling In the No.8 or box-to-box role, Liverpool have several established options, but questions linger about how they will be used and who will remain by the end of the transfer window. As touched on before, one or both of Mac Allister or Jones could be on the way out if the right offers come in, while Dominik Szoboszlai may be seen as a more attacking option depending on Iraola's preferences. Trey Nyoni looks a promising player and has continued to improve over the last two seasons, but the time is surely right for the 19-year-old to head out on loan and gain valuable experience as a regular starting player. Kyle Kelly, Afolami Onanuga and Tommy Pilling have been used regularly in the position for the U-21s, but a more experienced, dynamic central midfielder - possibly one who can play as a No. 6 as well - should be pretty high up Liverpool's list of priorities for the summer. There is unlikely to be much movement, however, until the futures of Mac Allister and Jones are decided. Priority rating: 4/5 Senior options: Florian Wirtz , Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott , Curtis Jones Liverpool spent big on Florian Wirtz last season to build the team around him at No.10, but the German international spent a fair amount of time in a wide playmaker role, too, as he struggled to show the full range of his talents. If the Reds persist with a single, central attacking midfielder, Wirtz and Szoboszlai are well-suited to the role, while Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are also options there. Elliott is among the players with the most to gain from pre-season, having suffered through a disastrous loan move to Aston Villa last season, playing little football with no hope of a recall. Now that he is back on Merseyside, Elliott could look to force his way into Iraola's plans for next season or otherwise impress enough to secure a permanent move somewhere where he can finally be a regular starter. Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak also possess some of the tools to be effective behind the front line, but the pair will be needed further forward as Liverpool are already light in attacking areas. Between Wirtz and marathon man Szoboszlai, though, Liverpool are unlikely to find themselves short in this department and are more likely to adapt their approach than turn to an option lower down the pecking order. Priority rating: 0/5 Senior options: Cody Gakpo , Rio Ngumoha, Victor Munoz, Federico Chiesa , Harvey Elliott, Florian Wirtz Youth options: Joe Bradshaw, Lewis Koumas, Kieran Morrison, Kaide Gordon On the flanks is where Liverpool arguably struggled the most last season, with an ageing Salah and an out-of-form Gakpo too often unable to influence games. The Reds have begun to address that with the signing of Munoz, but look set to miss out on top target Yan Diomande to PSG and could face a battle with Arsenal for the signature of Bradley Barcola should PSG be prepared to listen to offers for the French winger. All the same, the public targeting of such players indicates that Liverpool recognise that strengthening here is essential given the only other remaining recognised options from last season are Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa. Ngumoha could have the world at his feet, but he is yet to add the consistent end product required of a starter and at 17, should not be overly relied upon. Gakpo is attracting interest from Tottenham and Liverpool haven't indicated his departure is completely out of the question, while speculation continues over Chiesa - who was targeted by Italian teams in January and last summer. Elliott can play on the right but lacks the electric pace required to be a regular starter, and Wirtz is a very different profile of player to the touchline-hugging winger Iraola prefers. Lewis Koumas impressed on loan at Hull City in the second half of last season - helping the Tigers to win the Championship play-offs - and has one more season before he needs to be registered as a senior player, but he could look for a permanent move now having had a taste of regular football. The promising Kieran Morrison could be considered for a loan, leaving Joe Bradshaw as an U21 option. Kaide Gordon is now an overage player in the academy and will surely look for an exit to kickstart his career. Priority rating: 5/5 Senior options: Alexander Isak , Hugo Ekitike , Victor Munoz, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa Youth options: Jayden Danns, Keyrol Figueroa, Will Wright, Lewis Koumas Isak is the undisputed first-choice up front for Liverpool next season after his record move last summer, and will hope to put a difficult season behind him after featuring regularly for Sweden at the World Cup. Isak simply must kick on in the absence of Hugo Ekitike, who was a bright spark for the Reds before his serious Achilles injury - leaving doubts over how simple his reintegration will be upon his return. Gakpo has been an unwilling option up front for both Klopp and Slot and could be asked to fill a similar role under the new manager, but Chiesa and Munoz are further options in the position should Gakpo move on or Iraola choose to keep him in his preferred position on the left. It could be a big season for Jayden Danns, who has already scored three goals for Liverpool's senior team. If he can put fitness troubles behind him to prove himself in pre-season, Danns could be a valuable squad player and regular substitute, as well as targeting further starts in cup matches. Koumas is seen as an option at No 9 for Wales and could also be considered as a reserve option there for Liverpool if he remains, while Keyrol Figueroa and Will Wright have looked extremely promising with the U-21s. Strengthening with another option up front would cover for Ekitike's absence and take some of the pressure off Isak, but a golden opportunity for Liverpool's young strikers awaits in pre-season if the Reds choose to leave the pathway open for Ekitike when he eventually returns. While it may seem unwise to head into the season with just one recognised No.9 in the squad who is fit, this is a make-or-break season for Isak either way and he should be backed to find his form once again. Priority rating: 2/5