With just under half the season to play, the Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are sweating over their place in the top-four this season.

The race for the top-four looks set to go right down to the wire this year, as it so often does. Now that Man City look to have wrapped up the title, it seems that Liverpool will be competing for qualification for the Champions League alongside Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in what will undoubtedly prove to be a compelling and thrilling battle for the remainder of the season.

But naturally, the resident Kopites propping up the bar in the tavern wish that qualification could be sealed without having to worry too much about finishing outside of the top-four.

With the signing of RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita to look forward to and the arrival of Van Dijk at the beginning of January recently confirmed, Liverpool can begin dreaming of a more successful campaign next season.

And their aspirations could be given an even greater boost if reports in German outlet Bild which claim Liverpool are set to approach Schalke’s Leon Goretzka in January when he enters the final 6 months of his contract.

Goretzka’s future has called into question since the summer, and his refusal to sign a new contract thus far will give clubs in Europe an opportunity to complete a very shrewd piece of business as of January 1st.

Liverpool will certainly not be the only interested party putting an offer on the table, but if they are successful in their pursuit their midfield would look incredibly strong next season.

Here’s how Klopp’s dream midfield would look after Goretzka’s arrival…

CDM: Leon Goretzka

At just 22-years-of-age, Goretzka has plenty of improving to do, but if he is given the right opportunities by Klopp and trusted with a starting berth on a regular basis he could become Liverpool’s midfield general for years to come.

During his time with Schalke, the German international has impressed in a variety of different midfield roles, and his versatility to operate in both defensive and attacking roles within a midfield-three would give Klopp plenty of scope to experiment with his line-ups.

Goretzka has a lot to prove in European football and his potential will only be reached if Klopp opts to back him in his starting eleven from the beginning of his career on Merseyside.

CM: Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool’s Brazillian magician requires little introduction.

If Liverpool manage to stave off interest from FC Barcelona and keep hold of Coutinho beyond the end of the season then The Reds will have a fantastic opportunity to compete for major honours next season.

There is no doubt that Coutinho deserves to be the first name on the team-sheet, and he should be devastatingly effective playing slightly in-front of Goretzka in Liverpool’s central-midfield-three.

CDM: Naby Keita

Although Liverpool will have to wait until the end of the season to see Keita in action, the excitement at Anfield is already beginning to intensify.

It is likely that Keita will step into the position of Emre Can next season considering the German international looks set to leave the club.

Operating from deep in midfield, Keita will inject some much-needed balance and defensive solidity to the side whilst simultaneously influencing the game in the final-third when the right opportunity presents itself to move forward with the ball.