What will be the top priority for Arne Slot, the incoming head coach at Anfield, as he succeeds Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool?
Liverpool is starting a new chapter with Slot after more than eight years under Klopp’s leadership, which has brought Premier League and Champions League success.
However, the Dutchman will have a lot of things to handle in his new position after leaving Feyenoord.
Securing the futures of crucial players
While the specifics of the contracts may be worked out by new sports director Richard Hughes and chief executive of football Michael Edwards, Slot will give top priority to resolving the futures of three important players in the Liverpool team.
Superstars Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success under manager Jurgen Klopp. But come summertime, none of the three have contracts left.
Although it may seem unimaginable to Liverpool supporters to lose any of those three, Slot needs to weigh in on this matter.
Salah, 31, may be the target of a significant offer from Saudi Arabia once more. Would this be the right time to profit from the Egyptian considering that his form has just declined?
This summer is Van Dijk’s 33rd birthday. What would it take for him to feel renewed? In the end, Slot’s primary responsibility in this situation would be to persuade these elite players that, with him in command, the future is bright and it is worthwhile to embark on the journey—even if, as in the cases of Salah and Van Dijk, it may mean playing on less favourable terms than what they are now playing on.
Close the distance between Arsenal and Man City
Even though it now seems to have tapered down, Liverpool’s title push continued well into April, and there’s no denying Klopp left the team in a strong position. Slot firmly establishes himself as Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0. If all goes according to plan, a third-place result and a Carabao Cup victory that showcased the calibre of the young players the club is producing may serve as a springboard.
However, Slot will undoubtedly have to contend with two extremely formidable rivals in the form of Arsenal and Manchester City. To overcome Slot’s Feyenoord, PSV performed an almost flawless Eredivisie campaign; yet, those are the standards he will have to adjust to in the Premier League.
There hasn’t been much room for mistake in England’s premier league in recent years, so Slot will have to get off to a quick start if he wants to lead Liverpool into another title fight the following year.
Solve the poor finishing
In the last third, Slot could be able to make the largest improvement to this Liverpool team. They have been severely hampered by their season’s conclusion.
Darwin Nunez is frequently used as a scapegoat when discussions about this subject arise, and it is undeniable that he has the lowest big-chance conversion rate among forwards with at least ten clear-cut opportunities this season. Out of his 32 major openings, he has missed 26.
What is Slot’s return on Liverpool’s £85 million investment?
But Liverpool’s finishing issue is more widespread given that Luis Diaz and Salah are also among the top 10 players this season for huge chances lost.
This season, Liverpool leads the Premier League in Expected Goals (xG) total. but fall short of that number, scoring 77 as opposed to their projected 79.5.
On the other hand, compared to their xG stats, Arsenal and Man City have scored 15 and 12 goals more, respectively. Their innovation has had a significant impact.
Invest in a top defensive midfield player?
This season, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister have been the talk of Liverpool’s revamped midfield, with Endo and Allister splitting the holding responsibilities. But considering that Slot frequently uses a double pivot in that section of the field and there are doubts about Endo’s durability as a Liverpool player in that role, adding another defensive midfielder this summer looks like a no-brainer.
That would offer Mac Allister more freedom to play as a No. 10, which is more in line with his role at Brighton. It would also provide some extra security for Liverpool’s defence, which has trailed 1-0 in 23 games this season.
Reenergise the Liverpool supporters
Possibly the most significant – and intangible – goal for Slot is to inspire Liverpool supporters in a manner akin to that of Klopp.
It is not expected of Slot to emulate Klopp. There was something special and unusual about the bond between the German and the Kop. However, throughout this period of change, Slot will have to persuade the club’s supporters that the direction he is leading it is the best one for success.
Of course, there will be hiccups along the way. And in order for Slot and his team to succeed, they will need the support of the Liverpool supporters and the renowned Anfield environment.
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