Liverpool FC: Predicting the Reds Starting Line-Up for the 2011-12 Season

In what has been a reason of heartache and pain for Liverpool, it has also been a season of revived hopes and dreams. New faces, new leadership and new owners with a desire to win have done wonders for the Reds and the club as a whole.

The January arrival of Luis Suarez has sparked a sleeping attack for the Reds, as his creativity and tenacious attacking desire to get in the mix has pushed the Reds to their best since his regular inclusions began in late February.

Andy Carroll has also had a great effect; he has given the Merseyside club a new dimension to play from with a tall powerful striker to hold up the play and allow the quick-footed Uruguayan Suarez, and the in-form attacker Dirk Kuyt to reap the benefits.

With the loss to Tottenham Sunday afternoon, it is still apparent how much there still is to change around Anfield. The current crop of players truly isn't enough, and there will most likely be a massive exodus during the summer, as well as several more new faces entering the mix.

In the spirit of what the Reds could look like after a successful summer in the transfer market, here is a brief look at what the Reds bench and starting 11 could look like next season.

The bench of next season will most likely be very different than the one that we have seen so hodgepodge this season.

With many youngsters like John Flanagan and Martin Kelly featuring so heavily in this season, it is likely many of them will go out on loan to continue their growth and development after seeing how strong they have been in the league.

If not on loan, it is almost certain they will have a heavy load in the cup campaigns for the Reds next season.

The seven faces I expect to see the most on the bench in the coming season will be as follows.

Maxi Rodriguez has played well enough in the last half of this season to warrant keeping him at least through January of next season. His seven goals in the last four games have been key in giving us the opportunity to beat out Tottenham on goal differential if it indeed comes to that next week.

Jay Spearing is the little engine that could and has been so since Kenny Dalglish began putting so much faith in him. His height holds him back at times, but he has been a great deputy in the absence of Steven Gerrard.

Martin Skrtel will be the center back that I most likely see to take the place of Sotirios Kyrgiakos on the bench. I believe the big Greek will be on his way out, despite having been another excellent deputy this season, but he just isn't up to par at over 30.

Skrtel is solid at times but Kenny Dalglish I expect will favor the attacking prowess of Daniel Agger over the big Czech.

Martin Kelly played out of his socks for the Reds when he was given the chance by Dalglish. With a great showing so far, despite his setback due to an injury sustained against West Ham in March, I see the young academy starlet being a regular on the pitch and from the bench next season.

Raul Meireles has shown he is truly capable of great things and he will be pushing Lucas hard for the other midfield position alongside Steven Gerrard.

Brad Jones, despite his time not seeing the pitch once this season, will still be the main No. 2 next season. He has premier league experience over Peter Gulacsi, whom has been the main No. 2 the last few months, but he may be on the way out in January.

Fabio Aurelio has loads of talent, but he just doesn't have the ability to stay healthy for an entire season it seems. Due to this, I see him sitting on the bench to come in as a specialist or extra wide left man in a pinch.

His ability to produce class performances on a regular basis when healthy is the biggest reason I see him staying for at least another half to full season as the Reds rebuild.

Despite mountains of rumors throughout the season, I don't see Reina leaving the team.

I think he will remain at least one more season based on the new owners statement of intent in January, and also with the recent appointment of Kenny Dalglish to the helm for the next three seasons.

Reina is second in the Premier League with 14 clean sheets this season, despite it being a rough road for the Reds all year.

He also is one of the most veteran members of the squad, and I see the new owners finding a way to make sure he stays put.

The England International has been in fine form in the last months of the season. He has shifted over to the left side of the back line for the second half of the season under Kenny Dalglish, and it has truly revitalized his game.

His attacking runs and defensive skills have been boosted since January in what was not normally his main role. Next season, I see him back on the right side but with the new mindset instilled by Dalglish, he will be making great strides from his preferred side.

Next week will see the Anfield legend make his 668th appearance for the Reds.

At 33, Carragher's playing days are certainly starting to time out, but his work rate could easily see him stick around till 38 or older, just like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have for United.

However, with all that in mind, I only see Carragher being a regular starter for the Reds next season and maybe the one after. After that, I see him either moving to the bench, making way for the next generation, or moving straight into a coaching role.

There is no substitute for Carragher's smarts on the pitch, but his lack of pace is truly his greatest vice.

Daniel Agger is in the same boat with Fabio Aurelio, loads of talent but can't stay healthy.

However, I still see Agger as the first choice to partner Carragher at the start of next season if the Reds fail to land another high-profile central defender such as Gary Cahill.

The Dane has shown he has an eye for goal, and is another player who has blossomed under the management of Dalglish when healthy.

Jose Enrique is the most likely player to be brought in to fill the role of left back for the Reds next season.

I would love to see Leighton Baines, but unless there is a great rift in the Mersey River that causes Liverpool and Everton to get along, I don't see it happening.

Enrique has been a major part of Newcastle's resurgence into the Premier League from the Championship last season, as he has helped them stay up this season, and he will most likely want to move to a more powerful team for a betting wage package in the summer.

People can say what they want about this young Brazilian, but he has played his heart out for the Reds this year despite years of stick from the fans that he wasn't good enough. He has undoubtedly been Liverpool's best player this season.

Lucas has bossed the midfield all year and has struck up a partnership with Steven Gerrard that will be a force when they see more regular time together next season.

It will be highly unlikely to see him anywhere else but in the center of the Anfield pitch at the beginning of next year.

Captain Fantastic. You can truly never express what Steven Gerrard means to the Reds, and what he brings to the team.

I think we will see a Gerrard like never before under Dalglish, as player for a hero will bring out something inside the 30-year-old that has been missing the last two years.

With a proper preseason, and some certainty over where the team is heading, Gerrard is going to be back to his old self that has terrorized English and Foreign back lines for years.

His partnership with Lucas is growing into a force, and I see it only allowing the Englishman to feel more comfortable to push forward behind Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Dirk Kuyt has been in the form of his Liverpool career this season, and despite having him listed as a right-sided player on here, I believe he will drift into the middle much more under Dalglish and will have time to partner both Suarez and Carroll.

Under King Kenny, the Dutchman will most likely continue to blossom into the goal threat he was originally signed from Feyenoord to be when brought in under Rafael Benitez.

He also will share a third striker role and spend some time as a substitute to allow for Raul Meireles to have time pushing the attack as well.

Highly believed to be on his way to Anfield in the Summer is Aston Villa attacker Ashley Young.

He has been under the transfer microscope for the Reds since January, and with the new owners desperate to add youth and talent into the squad to build a nucleus for future success, Young looks a main prospect.

The young Englishman will surely add the width and pace that Liverpool have been so desperately lacking in the past few seasons.

Juan Mata also draws some attention, as he could be another option at age 23 should the 25-year old Young not work out. Mata has been a star for Valencia for the past three seasons and only looks to be getting better.

Has there been a better January transfer this season other than Liverpool's Luis Suarez? I cant think of one.

The 23-year old Uruguayan has been a sensation for the Reds. He truly has been worthy of the No. 7 and his pace, tenacity, passion, and downright hard work has been a Godsend for the Liverpool front line, which has been long missing all the above.

In 12 games for the Reds, he has four goals and three assists, but has countless moments of class that have made him a force to be reckoned with, and has endeared him to the Kop.

"El Pistolero" will be a line leader for years to come, and there are few other players in the world who could have had the effect he has had on Liverpool's attack. Kenny Dalglish has a true weapon in the form of Suarez, and the fans have a new hero in the making.

The Georgie Giant has already made his presence felt, but his in and outs with injury have prevented him a chance to really cement his place in his first months at the club.

Nonetheless, a brace against Manchester City solidified his time had begun at Anfield.

Next season will see him full fit and ready to lead the line with Suarez and wreak havoc on the defensive tangents of the Premier League.

His height, power, and above average foot skills for a big man showed in several great dribbling efforts against Spurs Sunday, and he will complement the quick, pacey, swashbuckling style of his counterpart Suarez.

The duo of John Toshack and Kevin Keegan from the Liverpool glory days during the early and mid seventies may just have a remaking in the future as the Carroll and Suarez partnership.

That time in Liverpool's history saw them win three League titles, one FA Cup, three Community Shields, two UEFA Cups, their first Champions League, and a European Super Cup.

If Carroll and Suarez could equal that total I believe, the fans would be so impressed they wouldn't know what to do.

Former Chelsea coach Steve Clarke was brought in by Kenny Dalglish when he took over as manager in January, and this proved to be the first of many excellent moves by the king.

Clarke has had a profound effect on the club just as Dalglish, and he will continue to serve as he also was awarded a new contract this week.

As of this week, Kenny Dalglish put pen to paper on a three-year deal giving myself and millions of other Liverpool fans around the world true hope for the future.

What Kenny has been able to pull off this season, even if we fail to achieve European action next season, has been a massive compliment to his ability to bring a team together.

With more investment and a full few months to plan for the next campaign, Liverpool's newly re-appointed manager will surely have the Merseyside club hunting for the honors of old that have so long evaded them since the last time Kenny was the manager, as he is the last Liverpool manager to have won the League back in 1990.

Kenny is also the second most decorated manager in the Reds history with nine trophies, behind Bob Paisley's 20. He is also the only Liverpool manager to have a shot at a second term, and I believe the Scottish mastermind will make the most of it.