I’d give Alisson another contract because losing him and Van Dijk in the same summer would rip too much experience and leadership out of Liverpool’s defence.

Craig is nearly back from his well-earned break, but you’ve got me for another column today, and there’s one Liverpool story that concerns me more than most.

There are currently no active negotiations between Liverpool and Alisson Becker over a new contract.

I don’t like that.

We’ve spent plenty of time discussing Virgil van Dijk’s future and I absolutely want Liverpool to keep him, but Alisson belongs in exactly the same conversation. These are two of the most important players of the modern Liverpool era, two leaders in the dressing room and, even now, two players I would put among the very best in the world in their positions.

Losing one would be difficult enough. Losing both in the same summer would be an enormous gamble.

Alisson Is Still My Liverpool No.1

I understand why Liverpool have been planning for the future in goal. You have to.

Giorgi Mamardashvili was signed with the long term picture in mind and Lucca Brughmans is another exciting young goalkeeper arriving. Liverpool cannot simply wait until Alisson leaves and then wonder what to do next.

But succession planning doesn’t mean you have to accelerate the succession.

If you gave me the choice right now between Alisson remaining No.1 next season or Mamardashvili taking over, I’m keeping Alisson. It’s not particularly close for me either.

Mamardashvili has looked better recently and I’m certainly not writing him off, but has he done enough to convince me that Liverpool should happily allow Alisson to leave? No.

Alisson has injury concerns and he isn’t getting any younger, but when he’s fit I still wouldn’t swap him for another goalkeeper. He suits Liverpool perfectly. His one-on-one ability is ridiculous, he gives the defence confidence and we have watched him save Liverpool points countless times.

If he wants a new challenge, that changes the conversation. I wouldn’t begrudge him that after everything he has given this club. But if Alisson is open to staying, Liverpool should be talking to him.

Give him another year. Give him two if the structure works. Even a one-year extension with an option gives everybody more time to assess what comes next.

There is no need to force a transition simply because Liverpool have already bought potential replacements.

Losing Alisson And Van Dijk Together Is Too Much

This is the bigger issue for me.

Van Dijk has just reached 100 appearances for the Netherlands and made it very clear he has no intention of stopping. He still feels capable of playing international football alongside everything Liverpool demand of him, and when I watch him I don’t see a player whose body is suddenly giving up.

Maybe he’s lost a little pace. That happens.

He’s still an absolute beast.

His reading of the game, leadership, aerial ability and influence on everyone around him remain incredibly important. Jeremy Jacquet has been outstanding, Giovanni Leoni will hopefully become a major player and Liverpool have to prepare for life without Virgil eventually, but that doesn’t mean they should rush towards it.

Now imagine removing Van Dijk and Alisson together.

Suddenly Liverpool aren’t merely changing two players. They’re changing the entire spine and personality of the defence.

We’ve already lost huge personalities over recent years. Mohamed Salah has gone. Andy Robertson has gone. Other experienced figures have moved on.

At some point you need continuity.

Liverpool could have enough to deal with next summer anyway. There are still questions over midfield, full-back and other parts of the squad. I don’t want us creating two enormous problems unnecessarily when the players currently occupying those positions are still performing at such a high level.

I Want To See What Nyoni Can Do Now

One thing Liverpool definitely will need over the next month is depth.

Nine games in 29 days before the next international break is brutal, and there is absolutely no chance Iraola can keep picking the same midfield throughout that run.

That should mean Trey Nyoni gets opportunities.

I’m really excited about this lad.

Every time he has been given an opportunity, he has looked comfortable. What has surprised me most is the discipline he has shown because, coming through the youth setup, you probably thought of Nyoni as a more attacking midfielder.

In the senior side we’ve seen something slightly different.

He understands when to go forward and when to stay. He doesn’t seem desperate to impress by trying something ridiculous every time he gets the ball. There’s a maturity there that I really like.

I’d love to see him alongside Alexis Mac Allister at some stage during this run.

I’m not saying throw Nyoni into every massive Premier League game and expect him to transform Liverpool’s midfield. We need to be sensible with young players.

But rotation only works when you actually trust the players coming into the team. Nyoni has earned that trust.

This run of fixtures could be the period where he properly establishes himself as a first-team option.

Frimpong Still Doesn’t Look Like The Answer

Then we have the right-back situation.

I’m taking the Barcelona links with Jeremie Frimpong with a massive pinch of salt because I’m not particularly convinced by where they’ve come from. But the interesting question is whether Liverpool would actually sell him if somebody offered around £35 million.

I would.

That might sound harsh, but I’m not saying Frimpong is a bad footballer. I simply don’t think he’s the right type of right-back for this Liverpool team.

With Wirtz, Isak and even Kerkez, whatever struggles they’ve had, I can see what Liverpool were trying to do. I can understand the profile and how they are supposed to fit.

I’ve never been completely convinced by that with Frimpong.

He can give you pace further forward. He can cover at right-back. He can be useful as a utility player.

But is he the starting right-back I want Liverpool building around? No.

That’s why the Michael Kayode links interest me. £50 million or more sounds a lot, particularly for January, and I wouldn’t rush into anything purely because another right-back becomes available. But Liverpool should absolutely be looking at the position.

There are going to be some fascinating squad decisions ahead for Julian Ward and Iraola.

For me, though, the goalkeeper decision should be easier than most.

Planning for life after Alisson is sensible.

Deciding his time is over before somebody has actually proved they can replace him isn’t.

If Alisson wants to stay, get around the table and find a solution.

I’m not ready to downgrade Liverpool’s goalkeeper just because the succession plan has already started.