Liverpool stars must sacrifice Euros to be fit for next season

LOYALTY is important at Liverpool, which is why some f ans were upset when I suggested Harry Kane would score more goals than Roberto Firmino and also make the team better. The point I was making is that even the greatest sides evolve in order to stay great.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were the best example when they dominated for 25 years. When I joined Liverpool, Robbie Fowler was God. It didn’t stop Michael Owen taking his place.

This has been a sobering season for Liverpool, dealing with empty stadiums, a non-stop fixture list and an unprecedented injury crisis at centre half.

But that doesn’t fully explain six home defeats in a row. There is still plenty to play for: the Champions League and a late run up the table, but they definitely need a plan to get closer to Manchester City next season. I’d summarise it as t he t hree Rs — recovery, recruitment and refocus.

Recovery means ensuring every player is fit and raring to go for the start of next season, even if they have to sacrifice their participation in Euro 2020.

Liverpool have shown how hard it has been to cope without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita at different times.

Some of them will be desperate to be involved in the Euros but there is no point in putting one tournament above longer- term health and career.

Liverpool will have to look at the data and have mature conversations with the players because the priority has to be starting 20212022 in a good place.

Recruitment is going to be vital for Liverpool in the next window and for me it’s acceptable if Klopp wants to be proactive and start emphasising what he needs.

Generally, the signings at Liverpool have been good during his time at Anfield but now is the time for the owners to go the extra mile for the right player.

Squad players such as Takumi Minamino, Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain may have to be sacrificed to free up funds. So be it. Liverpool badly need a couple of players to make the team better, not six rarelyused squad members.

Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Firmino and Jota are a fantastic quartet but Liverpool need a top-line No 9 to become a goal machine again.

If Erling Haaland is available, why not be ambitious and try to break the bank for him? His arrival wouldn’t make Firmino redundant, just give Liverpool more options.

Klopp’s second major purchase should be a centre-back. I rate Gomez and Matip but they struggle to play a full season. Ozan Kabak was signed in January but from what I’ve seen, he’s not the answer.

Midfield is less of a worry even if Gini Wijnaldum leaves, largely because of the emergence of Curtis Jones in addition to Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Naby Keita and James Milner — and Oxlade-Chamberlain if he stays.

Statistics suggest Liverpool’s struggles are in attack as much as defence with f our 1- 0 home defeats. That’s misleading. To change centre-half pairings so frequently has a big effect on the rest of the team — it’s all connected.

Full- backs Trent AlexanderArnold and Andy Robertson may have it in their mind to stay deeper. Liverpool’s first-choice midfield from last season of Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum had the athleticism to play a higher line, press with intensity and gain more turnovers in the opposition half.

I don’t see age being a problem. Mane and Salah are 28, Firmino, 29. They can play at a high level for another five years. Their mentality is fine but they need fresh impetus in the dressing-room.

Liverpool can refocus next season. If they aren’t in the Champions League, they can concentrate on regaining the Premier League title. Klopp has made it clear he’s fully committed to Liverpool. The owners must support him with big signings. In football, standing still is never an option.