Night has finally now fallen on Jurgen Klopp’s time as manager of Liverpool.
Klopp has been an absolute pillar of the club since arriving in 2015. To see him leave has been incredibly emotional for everyone of a Liverpool persuasion.
But with Arne Slot due to come in, a new era beckons. Slot will do well to match Klopp’s time with the Reds, but he takes over a Liverpool squad which looks well equipped to challenge next season.
It will do so without both Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara though, with both players given guards of honour at Anfield on Sunday. Both will leave upon the expiration of their contracts.
Eagle-eyed supporters may have noticed that a third Liverpool player’s deal is also due to end this summer, though. His lack of recognition from the club is perhaps a clue that he isn’t leaving after all.
Adrian set for Liverpool extension?
There were so many goodbye’s at Anfield on Sunday that this one may have slipped through the cracks.
Along with Klopp, Matip and Thiago, Liverpool supporters also waved a fond farewell to many of the manager’s coaching team.
But in amongst it all, some may have been expecting to see third-choice goalkeeper Adrian given his own individual send off.
The 37-year-old is in fact out of contract this summer and has recently hinted that he’s ready to move back to Spain. However, if that had been a certainty, then surely Adrian would have been afforded the chance to say goodbye to the Liverpool fans on Sunday
The ‘keeper may no longer be a crucial part of the team, but he has had some big moments with the Reds. A key performer when Alisson Becker got injured during the Premier League title-winning campaign, Adrian also kept goal as Liverpool won the Super Cup and Community Shield.
He has only played 26 times in five years, but Adrian was described as ‘unbelievable’ by Gary Lineker back in 2019. He’s had his moments.
Some may argue otherwise, but we feel the former West Ham goalie would deserve his moment if he was leaving. And Klopp being the man that he is, he’d have wanted to ensure Adrian got it.
What Adrian’s current situation is
Adrian has actually been in this position before. His situation was identical last year, before he ended up signing a new, one-year contract.
Obviously, 12 months ago was more straightforward given that Klopp was set to stay at the club, too.
Without the only manager he’s ever known at Liverpool, another extension is a little more complicated. At the very least you’d imagine that Adrian needs to have a conversation with Slot.
The truth of the matter though is that Liverpool could perhaps do with keeping Adrian. Caoimhin Kelleher’s future remains unsure and bringing in a second and third-choice in the transfer window will be tricky.
Liverpool do have other options, with Vitezslav Jaros having a good season out on-loan. But with Adrian a well-liked member of the team as well, it would make sense to keep him around for another year. After Sunday’s events, we’d suggest that’s now likely.