Jurgen Klopp expects two Liverpool players to ‘kick on’ big time this season

Szoboszlai backed for Liverpool success by ex-Reds keeper Bogdan

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has high hopes for Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott next season, it has been claimed. Jones started only 12 of 38 Premier League matches last season with Elliott managing 18 starts and the Anfield outfit are rebuilding their midfield in the current summer transfer window.

Klopp has signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35million rising to £55m and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for £60m. There are suggestions that Southampton’s Romeo Lavia may also arrive on Merseyside although The Athletic say that will only happen if another midfielder leaves.

Khephren Thuram of Nice had also been a significant target for Liverpool with discussions held with the player’s entourage. But the Reds have now walked away from a potential deal for the Frenchman after signing Szoboszlai who they view as more versatile.

The Merseyside outfit currently have eight out-and-out midfielders including the two new signings as well as Fabinho, Saudi Arabia-linked Thiago Alcantara, teenager Stefan Bajcetic, captain Jordan Henderson plus Jones and Elliott. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role at the end of the season also saw him deployed as an inverted wing-back and coming forward into midfield areas but he is primarily still a right-back at least for now.

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While the addition of another player, such as Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, remains plausible it is mentioned by The Athletic that Klopp expects Jones and Elliott to ‘kick on’ in the 2023-24 campaign. Liverpool-born Jones is still just 22 despite making his first-team debut back in September 2019 and being just three appearances away from 100 outings in a red shirt.

He ended last season strongly with nine straight Premier League starts, returning three goals in that time. He has 11 goals and 11 assists in total for the club – a respectable total given the No 17’s age and fitness issues in the past four years.

After overcoming several injuries, the England under-21 international has carried his form into the U21 Euros alongside Elliott. The Young Lions are into the final after beating Israel out in Georgia, with Elliott having scored a sublime solo goal against Germany in a 2-0 group stage victory.

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Elliott himself is merely 20 despite managing 66 appearances for Liverpool, which have yielded six goals and four assists. The player is still searching for his natural place in the team however having starred at right wing on loan at Blackburn in 2020-21.

His progress the year after was cut short by a nasty ankle injury suffered just when he had become a regular in the centre. While last season he was in and out of the team and predominantly featured as the right-sided No 8, although Liverpool struggled down that side with Trent Alexander-Arnold regularly targeted.

It is unclear if, in the long term, he can adapt to the demands of the role but it is clear he has an abundance of potential which Klopp is clearly keen to work with. The German is said to be delighted with Jones and Elliott’s impressive displays for England’s U21s and he’ll hope they can avoid any knocks so that they can start pre-season, and then the new season, fully fit and confident.

The 23/24 home shirt for Liverpool pays homage to the past of the club, as well as collaborator Nike, with a strong 1970s influence. The iconic red, capped with bold white cuffs and collar really does invoke that classic Liverpool FC style while adding a cool retro touch

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