Murphy warns Reds losing Curtis Jones would be a bigger blow than Alexis Mac Allister

With the departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson confirmed, and the futures of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones uncertain, a new dawn is approaching for Liverpool this summer. For ex-Red and England midfielder Danny Murphy, getting those decisions right will determine whether Liverpool can mount a serious title challenge next season.

Speaking candidly about the options available to the club, Murphy offered his verdict on who should stay, who should go, and who Liverpool ought to be targeting to strengthen the engine room. He also gave a heartfelt assessment of what Harvey Elliott's difficult season really says about his future at Anfield.

Liverpool should prioritise Anderson ahead of Wharton

Two names have dominated the conversation around Liverpool's midfield recruitment: Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson. Both are young English midfielders with genuine, well-established Premier League pedigree, but Murphy comes down firmly on one side of the debate.

"If I was to choose one I would choose Elliot Anderson. It's not because I don't like Wharton, I think he's a brilliant technically gifted footballer, but I think Anderson's athleticism and defensive work is better."

“He's more dynamic and he can play more roles. He can play as an eight, he can play as a six. I think he ticks a lot of boxes in what you need from a midfielder and now of course he'd like to add a few more goals and assists to his game to be more complete, but I think he'd find himself doing that in a better team."

Murphy is respectful of what Wharton brings from his composure on the ball, to his range of passing, and his ability to control tempo. However, he sees Anderson's profile as the better fit for the kind of high-energy, pressing game Liverpool want to play.

"He'd suit the way Liverpool want to play, I think. Wharton is a more tactical player, a more 'sit in there and dictate play', he's very progressive, good passer, comfortable on the ball, very graceful. But I think if you're in the recruitment at Liverpool, you'd be looking at Elliot Anderson ahead of Wharton."

Once we get through the World Cup, it'll be worth a look at the best betting sites to see what Liverpool’s odds are for another title surge next season, especially after what looks set to be one of the busiest summer transfer windows they have had in quite some time.

Losing Curtis Jones would hurt more than Mac Allister

The prospect of both Mac Allister and Jones leaving in the same window has naturally unsettled some Liverpool supporters. Murphy's take is measured as per usual, but he is clear that the impact of either departure depends entirely on the quality of who comes in to replace them.

"I think it's only a blow if whoever you bring in isn't better. I don't think they'd let either of them go unless they had a replacement coming in who they felt was better. Sometimes although you have an affinity to players, it's exciting for fans to see new players come in and try and make the team better."

On Mac Allister specifically, Murphy acknowledges that the midfielder’s campaign has been disappointing. He points to a disrupted pre-season as a significant factor.

"I think Mac Allister has struggled a bit this season. He missed a lot of pre-season which I don't think helped him.”

“And I feel a bit for Curtis Jones because I think his versatility, sometimes, hampers him. He plays midfield, he plays right-back, he's played on the left, he's played defensive midfield, he's played attacking midfield. He's never had a good, sustained spell in one position.”

“He's shown his quality and had some really good games and I actually think he's been underused by Slot. Obviously, Slot has the benefit of watching him train and seeing what he does."

It is the potential exit of Jones, however, that draws the stronger reaction from Murphy. The 25-year-old Scouser, in his eyes, is still a player on an upward curve, and one whose connection to the club adds something that cannot be manufactured.

"My feeling is that it will be a bigger blow for Curtis Jones to leave Liverpool than Mac Allister because I think Jones is still evolving as a player. He's mid-20s now, but I still think he's growing and I love the fact that he can play in different positions.”

“And he's a Scouser. Don't get me wrong, where you're born and where you're from isn't the be all and end all in creating a good squad but he gets it, he understands it and he plays with that passion and that fire."

"I think a lot of Liverpool fans will be disappointed to see Curtis Jones leave and I'm one of them."

Harvey Elliott’s Liverpool future hinges on Arne Slot

Few Liverpool players have endured a more frustrating campaign than Harvey Elliott. Shipped out on loan to Aston Villa in the summer, the 23-year-old found himself marginalised under Unai Emery. This is despite the midfielder producing good performances in training. What made the situation particularly damaging was the financial structure underpinning the move.

The agreed £35 million purchase option (according to BirminghamLive) was contingent on an appearance threshold that was never going to be met because Emery had apparently made his position clear from the outset. Within just a few weeks of Elliott's arrival, the Villa manager had concluded he neither wanted to sign him permanently nor commit to the funds that had been negotiated. Murphy is sympathetic, and places the blame firmly at the feet of circumstances rather than the player.

"For Harvey Elliott, if Arne Slot stays in charge, he needs a new home. I felt for him this year at Villa, what's gone on. It's my understanding that it's not down to him. Even Emery has said that he trains well, he's a great lad. You have that financial situation where if he plays X amount of games, you know all that stuff."

The former England international has no doubts about Elliott's ability to perform at the Premier League level. The question, in his view, is simply whether the right manager is in place to get the best out of him.

"The reality is he's a super player. He's very creative, brave on the ball. He's a Premier League level player for sure and he'll be desperately open to a change of manager because another manager might really like that type of player."

"And there is an argument to suggest that times this season he would have got more minutes if he was there because he brings something different. He's got that fire in his belly, he's got that tenacity about him and he's a goalscorer, he makes things happen."

Murphy believes Elliott's body of work at Liverpool over the past few years is sufficient evidence that there will be no shortage of interest. But his Anfield future, as with so much else this summer, comes back to one name.

"But if Slot stays, I think he'll be looking for pastures new to go really and express himself and make up for the season that he's missed. I don't think his lack of time for Villa this season is based on his ability. We've seen what he can do. He's had a good role to play for Liverpool over the last couple of years and I think there will be plenty of takers for him."

"It will depend if Liverpool stay with Arne Slot."

Read more as Shaun Wright-Phillips gives his thoughts on Arsenal's title push