Former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince believes Reds stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could have their ‘heads turned’ by the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are just two wins away from claiming their first league title in over 30 years, but the wait may continue with the Premier League season halted over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Reds have previous experience of losing their big stars to Europe’s elite clubs, with former forward Philippe Coutinho making the big-money switch to Barcelona in 2018.
And ex-England midfielder Ince fears the same could happen again, telling Goal: ‘They have had the same tight-knit team winning games galore. Things can change next year. Barcelona or Real Madrid could come in and take Salah or Virgil van Dijk.
‘You just don’t know. So you always have to be prepared for players who can have their heads turned like Coutinho was.’
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Liverpool have been linked with summer moves for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, but Ince believes they need even more additions to bolster the squad.
He added: ‘They will have targets. Four or five players to strengthen again. I am not sure what will happen this season but they are out of the Champions League which they will be disappointed about. The big teams have to keep on improving.
‘You have got to have competition because it excites the players and keep them on their toes. If you have new signings, then you step up again and it stops complacency from last year. These players coming in expect to play. Competition is healthy.
‘They will have a shortlist to bring in but not many because they have been fantastic. We used to bring one or two in at our time to keep the momentum going. I think Klopp will do the same.’
In terms of where Liverpool rank in the list of the great sides of the Premier League era, Ince thinks his former side have a way to go.
He continued: ‘It is tough to say that [they are among the best] but I think what Liverpool have done has been a great achievement.
‘Are they a great team? I wouldn’t say they are; you have to win it season after season. I think they have got the talent and the manager to become a great team. Great teams keep winning. If they win it this year and next year, then we can start calling it a great team.
‘Like that Man City team, that’s a great team. Liverpool have been good in the last two years but they need to keep winning things before we say it is a great team. You go back to other great teams.’
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