Aldridge: "There Will Be a Mini-Cull"

After Liverpool went through to the Europa League semi-finals, did anyone's mind raced to the fact that such a big and dramatic result against a quality opponent would make waves? There are probably players within the Liverpool squad that know they're on the way out, but there are players across Europe looking to move to a club where they can take the next step or regain their footing.

Defeating a Borussia Dortmund side that was unbeaten in 2016 was fantastic achievement, but it was good to see Liverpool keep the momentum going against Bournemouth over the weekend. Jürgen Klopp provides enough of a pull for players if they or their representatives have been following major leagues over the past few years.

Liverpool might neither retain the league consistency of old before the Premier League era began nor the regular European top table presence of a decade ago, but Merseyside's finest can still attract good players. John Aldridge can always be counted on for an opinion and a take on his former club, and change appeared to be coming in the summer.

How much change, however, for a club that has produced some spectacular as well as flat performances since Klopp took over six months ago?

When Jurgen took over at Dortmund in his first close season he let 17 players go and brought 12 in. That might tell you something. Thankfully Liverpool don't need to do that but it needs slimming down and I'm sure there will be comings and goings. He has already brought two players in and there may be five or so more.

There will be a mini-cull at Liverpool. If we can win the Europa League that will make life a lot easier for Jurgen. He's got a great stature so players will want to come and play for him and after what we saw at Anfield against Dortmund players will look at that and think 'I'd love to play there. That is incredible'.

So last Thursday was a massive marketing tool for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is as well. If we can get into the Champions League he can go out and do some serious damage I'm sure.

Changes to the squad can be expected, but there are quite a few players who have proved to be more than useful and versatile enough to be counted on next season. Klopp will be focused on leading his side to a second final along with possibly securing a top five finish despite only taking over in early October. Whoever comes in this summer, though, must be ready to push as Klopp seems intent on travelling quite far.