11 Players Liverpool Should Clear out in 2015 Summer Transfer Window
Following the reported departures of Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh, attention will now turn to who will replace the duo in Brendan Rodgers' coaching staff.
While searching for two new members of his backroom team, Rodgers must also plan an overhaul of his playing squad, with several high-profile departures expected this summer.
Last summer saw seven players leave Liverpool on permanent deals, including the record sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and Pepe Reina joining Bayern Munich after a season on loan to Napoli.
Of those seven deals, six occurred in August. Liverpool will be keen to get business done earlier this summer and give Rodgers the time to reinvest the money raised from sales.
After a disappointing campaign where many players failed to perform, Rodgers could look to move on a number of players from his squad. There's also several players who were out on loan last season who are expected to make permanent moves away.
We take a look at 11 players Liverpool should clear out in the summer transfer window.
Free Agents: Gerrard, Johnson, Jones
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The obvious starting point here is those three players already confirmed to be leaving due to their contracts expiring and not being renewed.
Club captain Steven Gerrard will head across the Atlantic and join MLS side LA Galaxy, undoubtedly the highest-profile departure of the summer.
Meanwhile, another high-earning and long-serving player will also leave, with full-back Glen Johnson linked with a return to former club West Ham United.
Additionally, backup goalkeeper Brad Jones will depart after five years at the club.
Loans: Aspas, Alberto, Coates
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It's easy to forget that Liverpool still own Spanish duo Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, who have both spent the season on loan in La Liga.
Aspas' move to Sevilla looks like being made permanent after the player himself confirmed as such last month.
Liverpool will welcome offers for midfielder Alberto, who spent the campaign at Malaga.
Centre-back Sebastian Coates spent the season at Sunderland, where he impressed toward the end of the campaign. The Black Cats and Leicester City are among the clubs linked with the Uruguayan.
Non-Goalscoring Trio: Borini, Lambert, Balotelli
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Without a doubt the most important area for Rodgers to address this summer is the lack of goals in his side.
Without injured Daniel Sturridge for most of the season, Rodgers opted for Raheem Sterling as a makeshift striker for much of the campaign, such was his lack of faith in Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini.
The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce told the Anfield HQ podcast (via This Is Anfield) that Sampdoria are interested in taking the Italian, but that the Reds may struggle to get even half of the £16 million they paid for him last summer.
Borini started just one Premier League game since the turn of the year and clearly has no future at the club. Lambert almost left in January but wanted a full season at his boyhood club.
Between them, the trio scored just eight goals in all competitions.
With Divock Origi to join the club from his loan at Lille, plus the expected arrival of Danny Ings, Rodgers is looking for one more key striker to make it three in, three out at Anfield.
Not Needed: Jose Enrique
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Spaniard Jose Enrique made just six starts in 2014/15, having missed most of the previous campaign due to knee injury.
He looks like he will struggle to ever regain full fitness and certainly won't be regaining his place in the Liverpool first team.
With only a year left on his contract, Liverpool will let the former Newcastle United left-back leave this summer.
1 Midfielder Too Many: Lucas or Allen
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James Milner became the Reds' first confirmed signing of the summer (subject to a medical) and has reportedly been lured by the promise of a central-midfield role.
With Emre Can also expected to compete for a role in his natural centre-midfield position next season, Rodgers' squad is overstocked with central midfielders.
Can, Milner, Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen are all in the mix, plus Philippe Coutinho has often operated from the midfield three. Then there's youngster Jordan Rossiter who missed the latter end of the campaign due to injury.
Lucas could be the one to make way after he was linked with a move away in January.
