Dreams of an unprecedented quadruple were still alive for Liverpool at this point last year. Fast-forward 12 months later, and the Merseyside powerhouses have work to do to even get into the Europa Conference League.
If miserable defeats to Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion had not depleted any shreds of optimism left in the Anfield ranks, Jurgen Klopp's season hit a low ebb with Saturday's 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who outfought, outplayed and outclassed Liverpool all over the pitch at Molineux.
A plethora of injuries to key players and continued uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership situation has hardly helped matters, but most of Klopp's available crop have played their part in the successes of the past few seasons, and the German was at a loss to explain his side's downfall after Saturday's defeat.
Reds fans often take aim at the board for a perceived lack of investment in the transfer market, leading to feelings of a stale squad that is in significant need of a refresh, and several exits could help Liverpool - who are languishing in 10th in the Premier League table - along that path.
While the likes of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adrian and Juventus loanee Arthur should all walk out of the door for nothing this summer, others under contract for a couple more years in Klopp's ranks could follow suit.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at five players who could potentially depart Liverpool in the summer transfer window as Klopp aims to restore the Reds to their former glories.
Mohamed Salah
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The curse of the new contract bedevilled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal, and if recent performances are anything to go by, the same is happening to Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
Having enjoyed a spate of prolific seasons at Anfield since moving from Roma in 2017, Salah ultimately committed himself to a new deal until 2025 in the summer, following a brief period of flirting with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sixteen goals and six assists from 30 appearances in all tournaments this season are still eye-catching numbers, but there is a consensus that Salah has failed to live up to his high standards since the World Cup.
Indeed, since Liverpool's win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, Salah has failed to score or assist in five Premier League appearances, and the Egyptian - who turns 31 this year - is not getting any younger.
With two years left to run on his contract, this summer may end up being Liverpool's best chance to recoup a sizeable fee for Salah, who could reportedly still earn one more lucrative European contract at Paris Saint-Germain.
Furthermore, the Reds have apparently already identified a ready-made replacement in Federico Chiesa, who could headline a Juventus exit after their recent points deduction, but Liverpool will have to come up with a pitch too good to turn down should they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Fabinho
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Many players in Anfield red have suffered a notable decline in their performances this season, but none more so than Fabinho, whose midfield presence is virtually non-existent sometimes this season.
The Brazilian cannot shoulder any blame for Saturday's defeat to Wolves, where he missed out due to illness, but he would have been counting himself fortunate to make the squad anyway after somehow escaping a red card for his atrocious challenge on Brighton's Evan Ferguson in the FA Cup.
However, the 29-year-old's worsening performances have forced him to accept a spot on the bench in recent weeks, with a man 11 years his junior in Stefan Bajcetic demoting him to a sporadic role.
Bajcetic has not been able to single-handedly turn Liverpool's fortunes around, but he has been a shining light in a challenging 2023 and recently signed a new long-term contract at Anfield, which highlights the faith that club chiefs have in the 18-year-old.
Formerly the omnipotent one-man midfield screen, Fabinho is still under contract at Anfield until 2026, but he will turn 30 this year and has seemingly passed the torch on to Bajcetic, so it is not difficult to envisage the Brazilian being part of the expected midfield reshuffle.
Joel Matip
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Forever wowing the Anfield faithful with his mazy runs from the back, Joel Matip has been a favourite of Klopp's and the fans for a while now, but the less said about his 2022-23 campaign the better.
With Virgil van Dijk immovable in the backline and Ibrahima Konate quickly forcing his way into the fold, Matip has also played a peripheral role this term, but injuries to Klopp's two first-choice defenders have given Matip the chance to rediscover his old form.
However, the 31-year-old would endure a nightmare afternoon at Molineux, as with only five minutes on the clock, he failed to deal with a long ball over the top to Hwang Hee-chan and ended up deflecting the South Korean's cross-cum-shot over the line.
None of Liverpool's defenders covered themselves in glory on Saturday, but Matip's horror showing has led to suggestions that the Reds are open to offers for the ex-Cameroon international in the summer transfer window.
With Matip only under contract at Liverpool until the end of next season, the Reds will be forced to watch the defender leave for nothing in 2024 if he is not sold this summer, but he can at least boast a proud collection of medals from his time on Merseyside.
Nat Phillips
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Until the final few days of the January transfer window, everything was seemingly pointing towards an Anfield departure for Nat Phillips, who is far down the pecking order in terms of Klopp's centre-back choices.
Konate, Van Dijk, Matip and Joe Gomez are all preferred to the 25-year-old, whose winter move away was supposedly blocked following the news that Konate would spend three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Phillips could therefore still have a massive part to play this season, and history could even repeat itself for the Englishman alongside Rhys Williams, who was recalled from his loan spell at Blackpool midway through the season.
During the Reds' injury crisis of 2020-21, Phillips and Williams were thrown into the deep end, but the duo played crucial roles in helping Liverpool qualify for the Champions League and may be needed to replicate their heroics at various points in the coming months.
However, there is a clear acceptance that Phillips's long-term future does not lie at Anfield, and a summer departure for the 25-year-old - whose contract is up in 2025 - will be the best move for all involved.
Caoimhin Kelleher
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Liverpool fans will always reserve a soft spot in their hearts for penalty shootout hero Caoimhin Kelleher, whose exploits in their FA Cup and EFL Cup double-winning campaign of 2021-22 will not be forgotten.
Fleeting appearances in the knockout tournaments are still the norm for the 24-year-old, though, as Alisson Becker remains Klopp's undisputed number one and will do so throughout their sticky patch.
Alisson may have made a couple of notable mistakes this term, but Kelleher remains without a Premier League appearance this season and has played just four times in the top flight for Liverpool since coming through the youth ranks.
Kelleher is undoubtedly a brilliant backup option, but the 24-year-old cannot be expected to play second fiddle forever, and he is reaching the point of his career where regular game time is a necessity.
Due to his home-grown status, Liverpool will likely fight tooth and nail to keep the Republic of Ireland international, but the Reds will surely accept Kelleher's need to advance his career elsewhere while Alisson retains possession of the gloves.
Kelleher still has three and a half years left to run on his Anfield deal, so Liverpool can at least expect to receive a suitable fee for any sale, and any exit for the shot-stopper would certainly be an amicable one.
