Here are five ways Arne Slot can fix his Liverpool team before their ambitions run away from them this season…
1. Rotate Mohamed Salah
This is a tricky one for both player and manager, but ultimately no player is bigger than the club. Mo is in a tricky moment and shouldn’t be immune from criticism, and therefore should be open to dropping in and out more as he fights alongside his team-mates to find form.
2. Drop Alexis Mac Allister
After some strange injury issues at the back end of 2024-25 bled into the start of this season, it has become clear that Mac Allister is struggling for both form and fitness. He has been brilliant for Slot so I completely understand the loyalty being shown towards him, but he is upsetting the balance of the midfield right now and needs a spell out of the side to allow others in better form to step in.
3. Leave Milos Kerkez out
The youngster was brilliant at Bournemouth but appears to be struggling with the pressure of playing for a big club like Liverpool, with a more expansive style that leaves him a little less protected. Meanwhile, the manager has continued to persist with him, which has opened him up for criticism. It doesn’t have to be Andy Robertson, either. If it can be Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back, why can’t it be Joe Gomez (for example) at left-back?
4. Play Hugo Ekitike
Aside from Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravernberch, Ekitike has arguably been the most in-form man this season for the Reds. He made a major mistake in getting sent off against Southampton, one that seems a sliding doors moment more with every passing week and loss, but his energy and surety through the middle makes such a difference.
5. Keep Szoboszlai in midfield
Slot saw success last season in simplifying the roles of a number of his players, especially those who had been struggling previously. Szoboszlai has been great but the toll is starting to become clear and he is being exposed time and again at right-back, as teams figure him out more in that position. Jeremie Frimpong was signed to play right-back and has hardly had a sniff, so why not give him an extended run instead?
Find more from Josh Sexton, external on outlets including The Anfield Wrap, external
Do you agree with Josh?
Or are there any more pressing issues Slot faces?
Tell us here
