Liverpool's narrow 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup Semi Final wasn't nearly as close as the scoreline suggests, as the Reds were deservedly beaten by a passionate Villa side, that made their way to the final against Arsenal, scuppering dreams of Steven Gerrard lifting the FA Cup in his final game in a red shirt.
The defeat was the latest in a series of 'what if' moments for Liverpool during the tenure of Brendan Rodgers, and it threw up more questions than answers in regards as to who Liverpool should be looking to offload during the summer window.
There are things we know, and thing's we don't. The things we do know are much less interesting to read about, so let's get them out of the way first.
Steven Gerrard is off, that's confirmed. The skipper won't go out in a blaze of glory, but will depart on a free to Los Angeles Galaxy having had a brilliant Liverpool career. Glen Johnson looks set to follow his captain out of the exit door, as his contract reaches its end with no sign of a renewal on the cards. Brad Jones is another squad member destined to leave in the summer, as the club search for more options in goal. Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Sebastian Coates will all return from loan spells, but they are likely to be out of the door within weeks of their returns.
There are then of-course, the players that, bar a major money move, should still be at Liverpool come September 2nd 2015. The list is as follows: Mignolet; Can; Skrtel; Sakho; Moreno; Henderson; Allen; Flanagan; Markovic; Sterling; Coutinho; Lallana; Sturridge; Lucas; Ibe; Origi; Wisdom; Illori.
After this, there are a number of decisions to be made at the club this summer. When Rodgers took on the Liverpool job he rid the club of alot of deadwood, as players like Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic and Stewart Downing were ruthlessley cast aside. It could be suggested that there are a group of Liverpool players that fall into that group once more. Jose Enrique, Rickie Lambert and Kolo Toure are all elderly players on fairly high wages that have contributed little to the first team this season, and it would probably be wise for Liverpool to cut them loose.
Each offer their own advantages, Toure with his medal winning experience, Lambert's scouse roots allowing the fans to connect with him, and Enrique for his beloved Mario Kart tournaments and cat selfies. But the one thing they all lack is match-winning quality, and that should be the number one priority.
In the next category goes the 'unfortunate failings' that Liverpool suffered in last summer's transfer market. Now, I'll be the first to defend Mario Balotelli, and think that the Italian has been made a scapegoat on numerous ocassions in a poor season for Liverpool, but that's a seperate issue. However, the reality is that he will probably leave. It's a little frustrating that Balotelli is more likely to depart L4 than centre back Dejan Lovren. Despite various bold statements upon his arrival from Southampton, it really hasn't worked out for the £20million Croat and ideally for all, he would be moved on. Lovren ended the game against Villa with a crazed 40 yard shot, that summed up his time at Liverpool with one kick of the ball, but it's likely that he will remain next year. I'm going off topic, but what on earth was he thinking?! In what world does it go in. He isn't Phil Jagielka! Okay, as I was saying...
The final man in this category is Javier Manquillo, who has been more of a failure by the management than the player. Manquillo arrived as a young promising full-back on a two year loan from Atletico Madrid, and looked like the defensively solid right back Liverpool had been crying out for in a few games before October, and then he was gone. We've barely seen or heard from him since, and can only presume that he's done something as inexcusable as ask to play ahead of the indisputably superb Glen Johnson. Either way, it seems like Manquillo could be returned to sunny Spain in July, with his reputation still in tact.
Finally, we get a man in a category of his own. Fabio Borini finds himself as the lone wolf in the 'why hasn't he already left' pile. Borini rejected lucrative offers, for both himsef and Liverpool, to leave in January aswell as last summer, with his agent citing the fact that a 'top striker' such as himself can do better than the clubs that came in for him. The young Italian has, unsurprisingly, found first team opportunities restricted this season and his goal in the 2-0 away victory against Aston Villa was probably his highlight. Anyway, he might stay as Liverpool's fourth or fifth choice striker, but could leave if the right club moves for the striker.