Arne Slot has masterminded Liverpool’s record-equalling twentieth top-flight title, however, worryingly for the remainder of the Premier League, the Dutchman says his aspect will solely get higher subsequent season – so the place can the champions strengthen?
Slot might have grow to be the primary Dutch coach to win the Premier League after the Reds dismantled Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday, however it has not taken lengthy for the Liverpool head coach to begin turning his consideration in direction of defending the title subsequent season.
“We can definitely improve,” Slot mentioned ominously when requested to look again on his unimaginable debut marketing campaign in cost on the membership. “I think we have to become even better.”
Liverpool want at the least 5 or 6 gamers – three to go straight within the group and three to be sturdy backups – with nonetheless so many areas of the group to enhance.
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher agrees, telling Sky Sports activities the Reds “need at least five or six players – three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups – with still so many areas of the team to improve” subsequent season.
Having introduced in simply Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia – earlier than loaning him again to the LaLiga aspect – and Juventus’ Federico Chiesa final summer season, Slot is reportedly set to be backed within the switch market by the membership’s house owners the Fenway Sports activities Group [FSG].
So the place will the Liverpool head coach and sporting director Richard Hughes look to strengthen the group so as to attempt to win title No 21?
Sunday 4th Could 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Jeepers ‘keepers
Alisson demonstrated along with his unimaginable player-of-the-match show in opposition to PSG on the Parc des Princes in March that he stays arguably the very best goalkeeper within the Premier League.
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Alisson seems again on Liverpool’s season
Nonetheless, whereas the Brazilian continues to be solely 32, he solely has a contract at Anfield till 2027, whereas the soon-to-be-arriving Mamardashvili has already made it clear he’s coming to the membership to problem for a first-team spot subsequent season.
Had been Saudi golf equipment to reignite their curiosity in Alisson after he turned down a big-money method final summer season, then it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Michael Edwards, CEO of Soccer at FSG, cashes in on each him and Caoimhin Kelleher, who is predicted to go away Anfield if an appropriate supply is obtained for the Reds No 2, so as to assist fund a squad rebuild.
Main defensive shake-up?
Left-back is a precedence place for Liverpool this summer season after Andy Robertson’s relative drop off in kind this season, with the membership inquisitive about signing Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. Nonetheless, they aren’t the one suitor for the Hungary worldwide, whereas Ajax’s Jorrel Hato – who can play as a left-back and left-sided centre-back – can also be reportedly on the Reds’ radar.
In the meantime, Trent Alexander-Arnold is predicted to shortly verify his departure on a free switch to Actual Madrid, leaving Conor Bradley as Liverpool’s solely recognised right-back.
After which there’s the center of the defence, with Carragher claiming his former membership “needs a centre-back as back-up to the two [Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate] that we have.”
The scenario is difficult barely by the very fact Konate has nonetheless to agree the contract extension supplied to him late final 12 months, along with his present deal operating out in simply over 12 months’ time.
However, in a super world, it’s understood Hughes would wish to usher in a brand new left-footed centre-back, with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi reportedly into account, whereas Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez may all be bought to assist improve Slot’s summer season switch price range.
Assist for Gravenberch
Whereas left-back is a key space for Liverpool this summer season, together with a striker and a large ahead, if they’re profitable with these positions, they are going to then look to maneuver on to a brand new central midfielder.
It is a place Slot recognized as needing strengthening on his arrival final summer season, just for the membership to overlook out on their first-choice goal when Spain holding midfielder Martin Zubimendi turned down a transfer to Anfield so as to keep at Actual Sociedad this season.
That late change of coronary heart might have really been a blessing in disguise for Slot, who used Ryan Gravenberch within the function as an alternative with large success.
Carragher, nevertheless, nonetheless thinks Liverpool must strengthen on this space, telling March’s The Overlap Fan Debate: “I don’t think he [Slot] has any time for four or five players in that squad. I can accept that this season as this isn’t really his squad, but next season I’m sure he’ll bring players in. He needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger.”
And the Reds are reportedly pondering a summer season transfer for Crystal Palace’s spectacular younger England defensive midfielder Adam Wharton, whereas a extra attacking possibility may very well be Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with the membership understood to be open to letting Harvey Elliott depart.
‘Lack of tempo within the assault is obtrusive’
As talked about, Hughes and Edwards will certainly goal a brand new striker and a large ahead subsequent season after Darwin Nunez’s much-publicised travails in entrance of objective and Diogo Jota’s continued damage struggles this marketing campaign, with the previous anticipated to go away after the Reds turned down a big-money supply for his providers from the Saudi Professional-League in January.
Luis Diaz is considered one of plenty of gamers to have been energised underneath Slot this marketing campaign, however with the 28-year-old’s contract expiring in the summertime of 2027 and Barcelona reportedly eager on signing the ahead, the membership should determine whether or not at hand the Colombian a brand new bumper deal as he’s nonetheless on the identical phrases from when signing in January 2022, or to money in.
“The lack of pace in the team is glaring in the attack,” mentioned Carragher, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo reportedly underneath severe consideration to be Mohamed Salah’s long-term alternative on the righthand aspect of the assault, whereas Brighton’s Joao Pedro can also be believed to have admirers at Anfield.
“The other attackers [apart from Salah] Liverpool have got are good players, not great players. Liverpool need to buy two attackers. Not squad players, but players to play alongside Salah.”
