Liverpool heads into 2026 in need of a further upturn in performance level, but things have started to go in the right direction again for Arne Slot, in part thanks to Florian Wirtz

Liverpool experienced plenty of highs and lows in 2025, with the new year bringing an opportunity to continue to get back on track. After a tough few months, the Reds are back in the Champions League spots again.

From here, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Liverpool finishes inside the top four spots (fifth, in all likelihood, will be enough), and there is still a chance to win silverware in this year’s tournament and the FA Cup.

Some of our writers have made their predictions for the next few months, with optimism that Arne Slot’s side can carry on getting back on track in what will be an important period in the Dutchman’s tenure.

Florian Wirtz ignites

Matt Addison: We’ve seen glimpses of what Florian Wirtz can do, but I’m backing the German to really put down a marker in 2026. He has the potential to be a Premier League Player of the Year at some point. It won’t be this season, but he can still reach those levels.

Liverpool went big on the 22-year-old for a reason: to spearhead the era that comes after Mohamed Salah in its attack. It kind of feels like there has been a changing of the guard already, but that process is still ongoing.

Wirtz is a truly world-class operator and he is still getting used to the Premier League. When he has had a full season to adjust, then a pre-season, the 2026/26 campaign could be when he really comes into his own.

Florian Wirtz in action during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Wolves.

Marc Guehi signs

Matt Addison: While Crystal Palace probably made the best decision for its own season in keeping Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day in September, you do have to wonder how different things might have been for Arne Slot’s side had Liverpool got the deal done.

Several big clubs around Europe are keen (especially with the prospect of Guehi moving for free in the summer), but Liverpool surely has an advantage. In the player’s head, he was pretty much a Reds player last summer.

Guehi will have the pick of the best teams in the world when his Crystal Palace contract expires. Moving to Liverpool makes sense, though, and Slot’s men will need to sign at least one center-back in 2026. The smart money appears to be on Guehi.

Reds resurgent

Michael Plant: Liverpool has certainly stabilized after its disastrous autumnal form, which saw the team lose nine of 12 fixtures. A run of seven without defeat and some significant improvements from individuals over recent weeks mean that things are looking a little rosier heading into 2026, but Slot’s final press conference of the year was a reminder of how there’s still much to improve on.

The Dutchman discussed the team’s set-piece deficiencies and predicted his team would gain cohesion in the coming months as the summer signings become more settled. I’m minded to agree, and think Liverpool will kick on in the second half of the season. A top-four finish seems likely, yet a title tilt looks impossible. On the other hand, should Liverpool click and gain momentum heading into the final months of the season, then expect a deep run in the Champions League – perhaps this team even has the capability to go all the way.

End of an era

Michael Plant: Sorry to bring a sour note to this mainly upbeat set of predictions, but 2026 will inevitably see a major update on Mohamed Salah’s future. The fallout from the Elland Road mixed zone debacle hasn’t truly ended yet. Slot and the club’s executives will likely look to draw a line under the saga when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, and a mid-season exit seems unlikely.

The summer could be a different story, however. The winger, whose output is slowly on the decline, turns 34 at the end of the season. He will have a year remaining on his lucrative deal and it could represent the final chance for Liverpool to earn a transfer fee for the player. Fans may wince at the thought, but 2026 could well be the year they bid farewell to one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.

Likewise, Andy Roberston could be in the same boat. The left-back nearly left last summer but opted to stick around and fight for his place in the team. Ultimately, it’s a battle he has lost, and it’s difficult to envisage Robertson remaining for another year and continuing to play a back-up role.

Summer priorities

Michael Plant: We can expect a quieter summer in 2026 than the chaotic transfer window of 2025. Given the spending last year, in theory, fewer positions need to be addressed. The reality is a little less straightforward for Slot’s lopsided squad. One significant area that may require attention is the center-back position. Ibrahima Konate could walk away for free, Joe Gomez is ready to call time on his Anfield career, and there are no guarantees that Giovanni Leoni will be fit to start the new term.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Liverpool could need three new additions at the heart of defense, especially if there are no January arrivals. Marc Guehi is the obvious transfer Liverpool would like to complete, while Jarell Quansah, who continues to impress for Bayer Leverkusen and has a buyback clause in his contract, could be a simple addition to make.