It's surely only a matter of time now before Liverpool secures the Premier League title. Nevertheless, Arne Slot has some big calls to make on his squad in the summer.
The Reds will resume their charge for the league crown against Everton next week following the international break, and bar a catastrophic collapse, Arsenal shouldn't be able to catch them over the remaining nine games. In fact, Mikel Arteta already seems to have admitted defeat.
A league title in his first season since replacing Jurgen Klopp undoubtedly represents a successful introduction to life at Anfield for Slot. That doesn't mean his squad doesn't need some big changes though.
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Recent defeats in the Carabao Cup final and the Champions League have shown some of the limits of Liverpool's current options, and there has to be some big decisions made by Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. Liverpool.com has taken a look at four big calls they should make this summer.
The exit door
It seems strange to be suggesting that Liverpool should be offloading players after being crowned champions, but there's no doubt the Reds do need to upgrade certain positions. That means having to let some of the current options go.
A fair few of Slot's current squad have been linked with exits. Caoimhin Kelleher looks as though he may have already played his final game for the club, with Giorgi Mamardashvili's arrival surely leading the Irishman to get his wish to become a No.1 elsewhere.
He shouldn't be the only big name on his way out though, and as sad as it sounds, Darwin Nunez has to be one of those stepping aside. After three seasons at Anfield, it's clear it's just not going to work out for the Uruguayan, and it's time for Liverpool to cut its losses.
What's more, the Reds should look to offload him as soon as they possibly can. As harsh as that might sound, Liverpool will need all the funds it can get for a summer transfer splurge, and the sooner Nunez is off the books, then the sooner it can make its play for what could be a big signing.
A new striker
If Nunez is going, then Liverpool needs a new striker. In fact, even if he ends up staying, Liverpool still needs a new striker.
Obviously, in an ideal scenario, Mohamed Salah stays and carries on breaking records. But as recent games have shown, the Reds can't keep relying solely on the Egyptian for goals.
There's an opportunity to make a real statement here, especially if there is a helping hand from Nunez's sale. Some big names have been linked with a move to Anfield - Alexander Isak, Julian Alvarez, and even Harry Kane.
Let's be honest though, that last one is never happening - turning 32 in the summer, Kane might fit the bill in terms of the sort of striker Liverpool would like, but it would be the shortest of short-term solutions. As for Alvarez, still in his first year at Atletico Madrid, it doesn't seem as though he's in any great rush for another move.
So we move on to Isak. Liverpool would undoubtedly have to dig deep for the Newcastle star, but what a coup it would be.
Isak appears to be keeping his options open, having denied that there have been any talks over a new contract at St James' Park, and the lure of the Premier League champions might just tempt him away, especially if Newcastle misses out on Champions League football for next season. If there's even a slight chance of signing him, Liverpool needs to pursue it.
Contract talks
Clearly, Virgil van Dijk, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the priorities at the moment, and hopefully there will be some sort of resolution for all three before the end of the season. But, regardless of what happens to the trio, Liverpool's contract talks shouldn't end there.
A new deal for Ibrahima Konate has been talked up for some time now, and tying down the Frenchman has to be the Reds' next priority. They cannot afford to leave themselves in this position again next summer, with one of their biggest players potentially set to walk away for nothing.
And with that in mind, they need to look even further ahead. The likes of Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley are set to be out of contract in 2027, so they need to be the next on the list - Alisson Becker too, as long as he continues to show why he's the best goalkeeper in the world.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo see their deals expire at the same time, but their situations aren't as clear. Slot though will have a better idea on what he wants to do with them now, and that should guide the club.
Looking out for No.1
As we've already mentioned, Liverpool's goalkeeping department is set for a shake-up this summer, with Mamardashvili arriving and Kelleher likely departing. Not only that, but Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies' contracts are set to expire, meaning the current No.3 and No.4 goalkeepers could be on their way as well.
Mamardashvili won't be arriving just to make up the numbers, leaving Slot with a clear decision to make in goal. Alisson has ruled out leaving the club before the end of this contract, so there could be a genuine battle for the No.1 position.
Right now, that should be an easy call. Although there have been question marks over his injury record, Alisson has consistently shown why he is regarded by so many to be the best in the world, so even with Mamardashvili arriving, the Brazilian should start the summer as Slot's first-choice.
