Liverpool to be most reliant Premier League team on minutes from over-30s

Liverpool players who will be in their 30s at the start of next season contributed almost half the team’s playing time during the 2021-22 campaign, PA news agency analysis reveals.

The beaten Champions League finalists are renowned for their high-energy pressing game, but several first-team regulars are reaching the tail-end of what is normally considered a player’s peak years.

Five of the Reds’ six most-used outfield players last season will be in their 30s when the new campaign kicks off on August 6. The only exception is 23-year-old full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

In all, Jurgen Klopp relied on his old guard for 46 per cent of league minutes in the season just gone, the highest share of any Premier League club that avoided relegation.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, by contrast, handed just 22 per cent of minutes to players who will be aged 30 or over by next season.

The Premier League average was 30 per cent.

Liverpool played every game they possibly could have in 2021-22, winning two domestic cups, finishing as runners-up in the Champions League and pushing Manchester City all the way in the Premier League.

Despite a difficult season in 2020-21, manager Klopp largely kept faith with players that achieved success over the previous three to four years.

Eight of the starting XI that faced Real Madrid on Saturday also started the 2019 final against Tottenham. Ibrahima Konate for Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara for Georginio Wijnaldum and Luis Diaz for Roberto Firmino were the only changes compared with three years ago.

Most of this crop of players are in or nearing their 30s.

Liverpool’s forward line in particular is entering a period of transition. Sadio Mane has been linked with a move away, while he, Mohamed