Of all the top six clubs, Liverpool are the outfit set for the toughest summer.

Without the financial power of the Manchester giants and with a squad that possesses several clear weak spots, Anfield needs to be a hectic place during the mid-year months if they are to realistically compete the top four next season.

Jurgen Klopp has worked wonders with this current crop of players and played some enthralling football along the way, but we all know that isn’t enough for a club with the rich history of winning like Liverpool.

Whether the owners are willing to spend the big bucks it takes to bring in world class stars or not, upgrades on current squad members are available. They are there staring them straight in the face, in fact.

Now it’s up to the club to deliver Klopp with a squad that can really become a force domestically and eventually in Europe.

Simon Mignolet

Britain Football Soccer - Everton v Liverpool - Premier League - Goodison Park - 19/12/16 Liverpool's Simon Mignolet during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Liverpool need a new goalkeeper this summer. That is a fact, it is a fact that has been glaringly true for a couple of years now, actually. A failure to adequately improve their stopper situation (Loris Karius' arrival has not helped) has held them back at times this season and magnified the flakiness of their defence.

The backline has been at fault throughout this season, but without an improvement between the sticks, Liverpool are fighting a losing battle. A battle that will eventually stop any progression towards the summit of the Premier League, as has been seen in 2016/17 already.

Lucas Leiva

Britain Soccer Football - Liverpool v Everton - Premier League - Anfield - 1/4/17 Liverpool's Lucas Leiva in action with Everton's Ross Barkley   Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.

An experienced head at his best and a liability at his worst. Unfortunately for Klopp, Lucas has been more of a problem than a calming influence this season. Occasionally effective at centre-back, but a clear target for pacey players, his position in the midfield is untenable. Unable to keep up with the intensity of his team-mates, Lucas’ lengthy Liverpool career must finally be coming to an end.

New central defenders and a natural defensive midfielder are needed at Anfield, which – should they make sensible signings – make Lucas obsolete.

Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge, because of injury and the form of Roberto Firmino, has started only five Premier League matches this season. He is still a lethal finisher when fit, but it is clear that Jurgen Klopp has no interest in relying on a player who misses so many matches.

There is a need for a natural centre-forward as an option for Liverpool at least, but Sturridge is clearly not going to be that guy for Klopp. The former Chelsea man will be a star at many clubs around Europe, but his career will quickly fizzle out if he remains at Anfield. Liverpool should sell at the earliest opportunity and bring in a striker who Klopp can really trust to lead the line.