When August arrives, things at Anfield can look very different.

Jurgen Klopp will only be Liverpool’s manager for seven more games before he steps down, barring a stunning comeback against Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday night.

For an organization that has emerged from the ashes to experience the most remarkable phase of its contemporary existence under the German’s guidance, it would be an understatement to suggest that changes are underway. However, the German is departing, and a replacement is required.

Fortunately, Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim appears to be the clear favorite to succeed him, even though nothing is certain. Liverpool has worked hard to select a good successor.

Since moving to Portugal in 2020, the 39-year-old has performed brilliantly, defeating the Porto slash Benfica domination and winning one league title and three domestic cups. In addition, he leads Liga Portugal by four points with one game remaining. In May, he will face either Vitoria FC or Porto in the Taca de Portugal final.

Although Amorim’s style of play is not as intensely pressing and counter-pressing as Klopp’s, he is a tactically astute player with an excellent ball-focused style of play, nearly always fielding a three-man backline.

Although it would be different, there’s a good chance it may be a fortunate appointment. This is how the starting lineup would appear when the 2024–2025 season gets underway.

1GK – Alisson Becker

It’s been a frustrating campaign for Alisson Becker, who has languished on the sidelines with various injuries for chunky portions, but he’s still one of the finest goalkeepers in the business and he’s going nowhere next term.

2CB – Ibrahima Konate

While he’s not had the greatest of weeks, Ibrahima Konate remains a high-level centre-back and he would excel in a tweaked defensive set-up, with his ground-covering brilliance, technical skills and monstrous physicality likely to work wonders next season.

3CB – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has won silverware in his maiden season as Liverpool captain and while recent results have threatened the crucial final phase of Klopp’s swansong, he’s been imperious and will continue to serve as the Premier League’s standout defender under new management.

4CB – Goncalo Inacio

The interesting new asset and the man who will be the fulcrum of Liverpool’s shift in shape under Amorim’s tutelage, we are predicting Goncalo Inacio to finally make the leap to English shores following Liverpool’s vested interest in the dynamic defender last year.

Multiple reports suggest that the Reds can snap the ball-playing specialist up for just £40m this summer, with his singular style perfect for slotting in an extra man alongside Van Dijk and Konate.

As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 20% of central defenders across divisions similar to Liga Portugal over the past year for goals, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90.

5RWB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

He seems destined for a future in the centre of the park and perhaps that will occur under Amorim, but for now Trent Alexander-Arnold’s masterful qualities will be needed down the right channel in a role that might actually suit him perfectly.

Bolstering by three centre-halves, the influential England international could find his creativity reach even loftier heights, having created 13 big chances and averaged 2.5 key passes and 6.4 ball recoveries across just 19 Premier League starts in 2023/24, as per Sofascore.

6LWB – Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson is used to playing in a back four but he is blessed with so much energy and enthusiasm that there’s no doubt he’ll be able to adapt to a wing-back role, simply provided a greater license to overlap and whip fierce balls into the box. After all, he has featured in that role for Scotland on occasion.

7CM – Alexis Mac Allister

Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m last summer, Alexis Mac Allister has probably been Liverpool’s best season this season and you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll play an orchestrating role in the centre for Amorim.

8CM – Martin Hjulmand

Wataru Endo has been a brilliant surprise signing for Liverpool in holding midfield and invariably works his socks off, but Amorim could be convinced to return to Sporting Lisbon to sign Martin Hjulmand, who has been a monster in the middle for his title-chasing team this season.

Like Inacio, the 24-year-old Dane has been touted with a move to Merseyside this summer, following his current manager’s footsteps.

9RW – Michael Olise

The main one. Although every Liverpool fan feels a twinge of dread at the prospect of their teammate Mohamed Salah leaving, Amorim may be tempted to cash in on the player while he still has it, given that the Reds turned down a £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad last summer. Salah’s contract expires in 2025.

Michael Olise of Crystal Palace would be the ideal candidate, and because the winger, who has a £60 million release clause in his contract, was linked to Liverpool back in January, it might be the right decision to make.

Writer Muhammad Butt has referred to him as a “wizard” after he scored six goals and provided three assists in just nine Premier League starts this season. His durability is further demonstrated by his average of 1.9 crucial passes, 2.3 dribbles, and 6.2 winning duels per game.

10LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz has recently been linked to Paris Saint-Germain, but since Salah may be moving, it’s unlikely that the Colombian will go too, especially considering how well his skills would fit into Amorim’s tactical scheme.

With his relentless runs down the left channel, Diaz has an air of clockwork coherence and moves at an electrifying pace. Even if he isn’t the most skilled player, he will put in a lot of effort to make sure Merseyside has success in the coming years.

11CF – Darwin Nunez

Diogo Jota will still have a significant role, but Darwin Nunez may find that his frustrating potential reaches new heights with the technique Amorim uses.

Consider Victor Gyokeres, the £20 million acquisition from Coventry City who has been a Sporting Lisbon mainstay with an incredible return of 36 goals and 16 assists from 43 appearances under Amorim this season.

More significantly, though, the Sweden international is ranked in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, and among the top 3% of positional peers in divisions comparable to Liga Portugal for assists.

Nunez, who has scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions this season, is another dynamic player. Over the previous year, he ranked among the top 12% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for advanced carries per 90.

The Uruguayan could at last develop into the elite player that his skill set demands under Amorim.

Liverpool’s dream XI under Ruben Amorim in full: (GK) Alisson Becker; (CB) Ibrahima Konate, (CB) Virgil van Dijk, (CB) Goncalo Inacio; (RWB) Trent Alexander-Arnold, (LWB) Andy Robertson; (CM) Alexis Mac Allister, (CM) Martin Hjulmand; (RW) Michael Olise, (LW) Luis Diaz, (CF) Darwin Nunez