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Liverpool could finally be reunited with Gini Wijnaldum and two other Jurgen Klopp favourites
It remains to be seen how seriously Liverpool will take the Europa League when competing in the competition next season.
The only trophy Jurgen Klopp has failed to claim during his near eight-year tenure as manager, going all the way in 2023/24 would officially complete the German’s trophy cabinet during his Merseyside stay.
Reaching the final in Dublin will be no simple task, with plenty of strong sides set to be involved in the Europa League next term, including Ajax and Villarreal – two teams the Reds recently faced in the Champions League.
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Competing for this European crown will also see a number of former Liverpool players potentially making a return to Anfield, as explained below.
Gini Wijnaldum
The 2019 Champions League winner with the Reds signed for AS Roma during the summer of 2021, whom he represents under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.
Currently sixth in Serie A with one match to play, the Italian giants lead Juventus by one point and trail Atalanta by the same margin. Teams who finish the season in fifth and sixth will secure a Europa League spot.
Roma would have ended up in the Champions League for next year, had they triumphed in their Europa League final clash with Sevilla earlier this week.
Takumi Minamino
Minamino, now of Monaco, has seen opportunities to impress in Ligue 1 limited this term. The Japan international was, however, handed four Europa League appearances out of a possible eight.
Chances could again be on the agenda in this competition next season, with the French club currently battling for a European spot ahead of their final league match of the campaign this evening. Monaco must win their final match of the season against Toulouse this evening and hope fourth-placed Lille either draw or lose against Troyes.
Alberto Moreno
A two-time winner of the Europa League, the Spanish left-back will be looking to add to this collection in 2022/23.
Villarreal have confirmed their place in next season’s competition after wrapping up fifth place in La Liga with one game to spare and will enter straight into the group stages, without the need to participate in a qualifying fixture.
Sebastian Coates
Narrowly missing out on the chance to fight for a place in the Champions League, Sporting Lisbon ended their season in fourth position and will be another high-profile side competing in the Europe’s second-tier competition.
Ex-Liverpool defender Coates signed for Sporting in 2017 and has been a mainstay in their defensive unit since arriving in Portugal.
Adam Lallana
After seeing his 2022/23 season cut short due to injury, the former Reds midfielder will be eager to mark his mark in a competition he has previously reached the final of. A member of the Liverpool squad that reached the showpiece fixture in Basel during Klopp’s campaign, Lallana played a key role in this European adventure that ended in heartache.
Brighton finished one place behind Liverpool in the Premier League and are preparing for what will be their first season playing European football.
Sides from the same country cannot be paired with each other during the group stages, ensuring the Seagulls would only be able to face off against the Reds should both teams progress to the knockout phase.
James Milner
Seemingly on his way to the South Coast, Liverpool could also go head-to-head with the departing James Milner. Expected to join Brighton upon the expiration of his Reds contract at the end of this month, the veteran midfielder would undoubtedly receive a warm reception if Brighton were to grace Anfield for a European tie.
Opening up on his decision to depart the club, Milner recently revealed this was a call taken out of both his and Klopp’s hands by those in a position of power.
“It would be a shame to stop when you’ve still got a bit of life in you. Jurgen Klopp is a pretty good manager and the fact he still wanted me here and said I can still do a job is pleasing. I haven’t started a load of games this year, but I feel like I have contributed when I have been asked to,” explained the 37-year-old.
“The club obviously made their decision on that. It’s nice I’m in a position where the manager wanted me to stay, but it got to the point where I got to terms [with it].”
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