Liverpool plan to axe Gakpo, Gomez, Mac Allister and Chiesa in summer clear-out

Liverpool may rid themselves of some regular players in a summer clear-out.

Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Arne Slot, Liverpool, 2026

Liverpool are planning to axe Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa in a clear-out this summer, reports The Sun.

The Reds have failed spectacularly in attempts to retain last season’s Premier League title. After five wins on the spin at the beginning of the season, bad results began to seep in and have come far too often this season.

Liverpool are currently fifth in the Premier League, 21 points below leaders Arsenal with seven games to play, and Champions League qualification is not a certainty.

There is pressure on Arne Slot as a result and there’s an acceptance that change is needed an Anfield – whether Slot stays or goes, some players will be culled.

The Sun reports Liverpool are planning a summer clear-out including some of the players who have underwhelmed this campaign.

They state Gakpo, Gomez, Mac Allister and Chiesa will all be made available for transfer, while there’s uncertainty over the future of Curtis Jones, and Andy Robertson is set to leave on a free transfer.

Following the announcement that Mohamed Salah will be leaving the club in the summer, the Liverpool squad could have a very different look to it next season.

Liverpool change hasn’t been great

But with that could come some issues. When Slot joined Liverpool ahead of the 2024-25 season, his squad was largely unchanged from the successful one built by Jurgen Klopp, with Chiesa the only man added to the mix.

Liverpool then won the Premier League by 10 points and it would have been more had they not let their foot off the gas.

Then, over the summer, seven players were signed and Giorgi Mamardashvili entered the squad following his loan to Valencia.

But the goalkeeper has rarely played, Alexander Isak has underwhelmed massively when he’s not been injured, Florian Wirtz started slow, Jeremie Frimpong has been burdened by injuries, Giovanni Leoni has missed most of the season and Milos Kerkez has not been the player he was at Bournemouth.

Hugo Ekitike is the only new signing who’s been consistently impressive since heading to Anfield.

If there is to be big change against at Anfield over the summer, what has gone on this season means there is no guarantee things will change for the better.

In any case, if all of the aforementioned players are to be moved on, then there will be signings made to replace them.

There is already interest in a few of those players: it’s been suggested Chiesa could head back to Italy as a signing for Inter Milan, in a partial exchange to see Nicolo Barella head to Anfield.

The atmosphere at Anfield has reportedly reached a boiling point as Dominik Szoboszlai is said to be pushing for an immediate departure following a heated internal clash. What initially appeared to be a routine disagreement has now spiraled into a full-blown dressing room crisis — leaving new head coach Arne Slot in an increasingly difficult position

According to sources close to the club, tensions had been quietly building over the past few weeks. With Liverpool undergoing a significant transition after the departure of Jürgen Klopp, uncertainty around roles, tactics, and leadership has created underlying friction within the squad. Szoboszlai, one of the team’s most high-profile midfielders, is believed to have grown frustrated with both his tactical usage and the evolving structure under Slot.

The situation reportedly escalated during a recent training session, where a confrontation between Szoboszlai and members of the coaching staff turned heated. Witnesses claim voices were raised, emotions ran high, and the disagreement quickly drew attention from teammates. While the exact details remain undisclosed, the fallout appears serious enough to have triggered the Hungarian international’s desire to leave the club immediately.

For Arne Slot, the timing could not be worse. Still in the early stages of his tenure, Slot is tasked with rebuilding not only Liverpool’s tactical identity but also maintaining harmony within a squad adjusting to life after Klopp. Losing a key figure like Szoboszlai — especially under controversial circumstances — could significantly disrupt those plans.

Inside the dressing room, reactions are said to be mixed. Some players reportedly sympathize with Szoboszlai’s frustrations, acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a new system. Others, however, are believed to be fully backing the coaching staff, emphasizing the need for unity during a period of transition. This divide only adds further complexity to an already delicate situation.

From a broader perspective, Szoboszlai’s potential exit raises important questions about Liverpool’s immediate future. The club has long been admired for its strong dressing room culture and unity — values that were central during Klopp’s era. If cracks are beginning to show now, it could signal deeper issues that require urgent attention.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that moments like these are not uncommon during major transitional phases. New managers often bring different philosophies, and not every player adapts seamlessly. Whether this situation represents a temporary conflict or the beginning of a larger unraveling remains to be seen.

For Szoboszlai, the decision ahead is crucial. Walking away now could open new opportunities elsewhere, but it also risks leaving unfinished business at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. For Liverpool, the challenge is clear: resolve the conflict swiftly or face the consequences of losing both stability and momentum.

As tensions continue to rise, one question lingers: is this just a storm that will pass — or the start of a deeper crisis at Anfield?

Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool; UEFA Champions League Quarter Final

FTFull Time

Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool. UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.

8:00pm, Wednesday 8th April 2026.

Parc des PrincesAttendance: Attendance47,511.

Paris Saint-Germain2

D Doué (11’11th minute)

K Kvaratskhelia (65’65th minute)

Liverp

PSG 2-0 Liverpool: Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia condemn Liverpool to fourth straight away loss in Champions League quarter-final

Report as Liverpool’s Champions League hopes are dented by a 2-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain; Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were on target; Liverpool have lost four consecutive away games for the first time since 2012

Report as Liverpool’s Champions League hopes are dented by a 2-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain; Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were on target; Liverpool have lost four consecutive away games for the first time since 2012

Image:PSG’s Desire Doue celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Liverpool

Liverpool face a huge task to reach the Champions League last four after a humbling 2-0 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain in their quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

Desire Doue scored a deflected opener and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia punished poor defending to add a brilliantly-taken second in a one-sided contest in Paris as Liverpool were condemned to a fourth consecutive away defeat for the first time since April 2012.

“When we pressed them ​high we were ripped apart,” Arne Slot said in his press conference. “The second half of the game for us was more about surviving.”

The margin of defeat would have been greater if not for some wasteful Paris Saint-Germain finishing and good goalkeeping from Giorgi Mamardashvili, who made saves from Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi as the hosts dominated.

Image:Hugo Ekitike reacts after Liverpool fall 2-0 down to PSG in the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Luis Enrique’s side were also aggrieved not to be awarded at least one penalty, with VAR overturning the referee’s decision to penalise Ibrahima Konate for a foul on Warren Zaire-Emery, then opting not to penalise the defender for a push on Nuno Mendes.

Player ratings

PSG: Safonov (7), Hakimi (7), Marquinhos (7), Pacho (8), Nuno Mendes (7), Zaire-Emery (7), Vitinha (8), Joao Neves (8), Doue (8), Dembele (7), Kvaratskhelia (8)

Subs: Lee Kang-In (6), Hernandez (n/a)

Liverpool: Mamardashvili (8), Gomez (5), Konate (5), Van Dijk (5), Frimpong (6) Kerkez (6), Szoboszlai (6), Gravenberch (5), Mac Allister (5), Wirtz (6), Ekitike (5)

Subs: Robertson (6), Gakpo (6), Jones (6), Isak (6), Nyoni (n/a)

Player of the Match: Khivicha Kvaratskhelia