It hasn’t always been this way. There was a time, not too long ago, when Liverpool were scraping to qualify for Europe, or indeed failing to qualify for Europe.
The Luis Suarez-led Premier League title charge of 2013/14 will forever remain an incredible, awe-inspiring season, but it stood as a lonely outlier across a number of years of strife and disappointment.
But Jurgen Klopp changed all that, remoulding Anfield and placing Liverpool back among the big-hitters on the global stage. For many, it was a return to the old days of excitement and glory at the top.
Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were joined by another in the shape of the larger-than-life German manager, who signed and grew, organically, a team capable of challenging for the biggest prizes year on year.
Liverpool had created superstars like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino. They joined the likes of John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish and the like from an era of old.
And now, there’s a new wave.
Slot's Liverpool rebuild
Arne Slot led Liverpool to their first Premier League title in five years last season, and in the first year since Klopp stepped down too.
He did it without any proper transfer investment, only bringing Federico Chiesa, who scarcely played for several reasons, over in a £12.5m deal.
He’s since been rewarded. Liverpool have spent a British-record £116m sum on Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, and are looking to smash their own record with a bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. The Sweden striker wants to sign for the Reds, and a first informal approach has been made.
Such players have the potential to evoke nostalgia on Merseyside, for sure, but Liverpool are planning to sign yet another high-class footballer this summer with something of a stylistic connection to a former icon.
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Indeed, the aforementioned Barnes was quite the player back in his heyday, and Liverpool have a similar player in their sights.
Liverpool make contact with CL superstar
As per Spanish journalist Siro Lopez, Liverpool have been in contact with Real Madrid star Rodrygo as Slot looks to replace Diaz.
The Brazilian forward, 24, is anticipated to leave Xabi Alonso’s fledgling project after falling out of favour, but he remains one of the game’s most talented wingers and could be available for a fee in the region of £69m.
Rodrygo has also been coveted by Arsenal this summer, and with Leandro Trossard rumoured to be leaving the Emirates, FSG might want to act swiftly with this one.
Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo
Like Barnes, Rodrygo is an elegant and dynamic forward, though he’s, of course, more accomplished at this stage of his career than when Dalglish agreed a £900,000 fee with Watford to bring the now-retired great to Anfield in 1987.
The Los Blancos sensation has scored 68 goals and supplied 51 assists across 270 senior showings in the Spanish capital, winning the full gamut.
Rodrygo is a big-game player and could prove a fantastic Diaz replacement in that regard, filling in a void and ensuring that Liverpool have the technical quality and firepower to make an impact on the grand stage.
His talismanic approach adds a further level to the argument that he’s apt as the club’s new Barnes.
Barnes, when operating on the left side of the midfield, was a powerful and direct player, renowned for his speed and athleticism, his purposeful strides and (at times) clinical finishing.
He led a storied career, but it was at Liverpool that Barnes enjoyed his finest hours, notably winning two top-flight titles, two FA Cups and leaving as a two-time Liverpool Player of the Year.
Liverpool
406
107
92
Watford
237
64
9
Newcastle
41
7
1
Charlton
11
–
–
Though it’s unlikely Rodrygo would take a leaf from Barnes’ book and relocate to a deeper-lying midfield role in the deeper stretches of his career, there’s little question that the Brazilian shares some of the 61-year-old’s one-time versatility and cleverness on the pitch.
Former England international Tom Finney once said, “Players like John Barnes come along just once in a lifetime.” His pace, power and sheer will to win allowed him to thrive as one of the game’s elite, and these are traits also found within Rodrygo’s skill set, for sure.
As per FBref, Rodrygo ranked last season among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his mix of sharp passing and high-speed, controlled running with the ball.
The right-footer might not have enjoyed his best season in 2024/25, only scoring six times in La Liga, but he was routinely played out of position and could find a permanent home on the left flank in Slot’s Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti might have hailed his “special striker” for being able to “play in all positions”, but coming off the left flank, his potency and creativty are maximised.
Should sporting director Richard Hughes pull this one off, perhaps we will see the spirit of Barnes reborn in Slot’s Liverpool, adding that extra bit of quality to take this illustrious project to the next stage.
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