'liverpool Still Need New Blood' - Where Will Slot Strengthen?

Liverpool's comparative stroll towards a 20th title carries a dense informing awesome to nan rivals who must now effort to sound nan Premier League crown disconnected their heads adjacent season.

Arne Slot's seamless modulation into what galore regarded arsenic nan intolerable task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp has not only resulted successful a triumph achieved pinch comparative comfort, it has been done without immoderate superior strengthening of nan squad he inherited.

This is grounds to his inheritance from Klopp, but besides to nan shrewd strategy he employed to specified triumphant effect.

Liverpool signed Valencia's Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili successful a woody worthy up to £29m past summertime successful readiness for adjacent season, while nan only outfield subordinate to get was Juventus winger Federico Chiesa successful a £10m move, nan Italian proving nary much than a peripheral figure.

The level remains – but Liverpool will now spell into overdrive this summer, pinch their recruitment team, nether sporting head Richard Hughes, good connected pinch preparations to adhd heavyweight reinforcements.

Liverpool's past mantra is adhd from a position of spot – and you do not get overmuch stronger than nan position of Premier League champions.

So wherever will they strengthen, and who mightiness they bring in?

Brazil's Alisson Becker is 32, not aged for a goalkeeper, and has beardown claims to beryllium nan world's best. Barring thing unforeseen, he will beryllium first prime again adjacent season, pinch Mamardashvili providing beardown competition.

This intends Caoimhin Kelleher will surely leave. There will beryllium plentifulness of suitors for a goalkeeper who has proved his value and consistency successful nan Premier League.

There are questions successful defence, particularly successful nan full-back positions, while moreover Virgil van Dijk's determination to motion a caller statement whitethorn not norm retired additions astatine centre-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to subordinate Real Madrid connected a free transfer, while Andrew Robertson is 31, pinch speculation rife that Bournemouth's Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez will get arsenic his successor.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "Van Dijk is staying and will beryllium nan mainstay, truthful whether location is an summation depends connected Arne Slot's position connected Joe [Gomez] and Jarell Quansah. The magnitude of minutes they person played this play is very limited, truthful that suggests to maine that he wants immoderate back-up there.

"Virgil is coming up to 34 truthful they will want to get personification who will play a batch of games. If Van Dijk gets injured location is no-one location pinch anyplace adjacent his presence.

"There person been rumours astir Dean Huijsen astatine Bournemouth, who is simply a ace young talent, but I'd for illustration to spot personification a spot further down nan statement successful their development.

"The names that outpouring to mind will not beryllium easy, possibly impossible, to get but you deliberation of Micky van de Ven astatine Spurs, Marc Guehi astatine Crystal Palace and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite.

"They are utilized to nan Premier League and each different. Van de Ven has sewage lightning pace, Guehi has physicality, though he is not nan biggest, a existent calmness and leadership. Branthwaite possibly doesn't person nan athleticism but is simply a existent presence.

"If you could guarantee Gomez would beryllium fresh you mightiness not usage up your fund there. Van Dijk's durability astatine his age, and Ibrahima Konate arsenic well, person been a immense logic why Liverpool person been truthful good, but I deliberation centre-half will beryllium looked at."

Liverpool's contiguous protect privilege looks beryllium astatine left-back, but nan emergence of 21-year-old Conor Bradley has delivered what looks for illustration an perfect replacement astatine right-back if Alexander-Arnold leaves.

Murphy said: "In an perfect world you mightiness want to bring group successful for some full-back positions, but if you are looking astatine a cardinal defender and 2 full-backs, past you're going to participate into nan guardant positions and possibly 1 other successful midfield, you won't person nan finance to screen each bases.

"The praise Slot has fixed Bradley suggests he would beryllium successful that right-back berth if Trent leaves. Everyone needs to retrieve he is only a young lad pinch precocious expectations and he has had a fewer injuries."

Murphy adds: "Kerkez from Bournemouth is simply a really bully option. He's quick, he's sewage bully feet, likes defending one-on-one. He is very tenacious, awesome energy, and is only 21. It fits nan criteria of Liverpool's recruitment squad measured by expertise to advancement and go much of an asset. I deliberation that's rather apt to happen.

"If I would prioritise connected full-back position it would beryllium connected nan left. This is not immoderate flimsy connected Andy Robertson, conscionable successful position of beardown title and a early first choice.

"Andy's had immoderate difficult games wherever he's not been astatine his champion and made immoderate mistakes, but I don't deliberation he's incapable of playing to his best.

"I deliberation group person magnified his bad games, but he's had an atrocious batch of bully ones arsenic well. Maybe group person been a small spot spoiled because he's played astatine specified a precocious level, truthful consistently, for truthful agelong that erstwhile he has a bad game, aliases makes a mistake, it gets highlighted moreover more."

Liverpool's large privilege past summertime was nan hunt for a 'number six', but 1 that near them disappointment erstwhile Real Sociedad's Spain Euro 2024 victor Martin Zubimendi turned down a £52m move.

Slot pulled disconnected nan masterstroke of utilizing chap Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch successful nan position to stunning effect.

So stunning successful truth that Murphy believes this is nary longer an issue.

"I deliberation location mightiness beryllium a alteration of tack connected this," said Murphy. "If you're going to spell retired and walk bully money connected a holding midfielder he's going to want to play, and alternatively of Gravenberch. He has arguably been nan champion holding midfield subordinate successful nan Premier League this season.

"If it's not collapsed don't hole it. I'd beryllium amazed to spot him bring personification successful there.

"If I was Slot, I would beryllium pleading pinch Wataru Endo to stay. I deliberation he's a superb replacement. He tin do a really bully occupation and he's loved by nan fans."

Darwin Nunez has had 3 afloat seasons astatine Liverpool since completing a move worthy up to £85m from Benfica – but is nary nearer proving he is nan reliable and accordant marksman they need.

The 25-year-old has been pushed to nan margins nether Slot, who has besides made nationalist criticisms of his attitude.

Liverpool's supporters person ne'er mislaid religion successful Nunez, loving his 'Captain Chaos' style and effort, but it looks progressively for illustration his clip is up.

Murphy said: "It's clip for a freshen up successful attack. I deliberation Darwin has had a batch of chances. If you conscionable simplify it to what we've seen successful position of his publication and minutes played, Slot evidently doesn't fancy him.

"Slot has played a winger, Luis Diaz, up of him arsenic a striker astatine times. That tells you everything you request to know.

"I would beryllium amazed if Darwin stayed. I deliberation nan penning is connected nan wall for him."

So who are nan options?

"I deliberation Alexander Isak is astir apt unrealistic," says Murphy. "And pinch nan fees being talked astir I'm not judge I'd beryllium successful that conversation. I'm not talking astir his quality, conscionable that erstwhile you salary specified a large portion of your fund connected 1 subordinate you almost want a guarantee they will beryllium fit.

"I'm amazed we haven't heard a spot much astir Jonathan David astatine Lille, who is connected a free. Watching him play he seems to person Premier League attributes. He's strong, quick, a decent finisher and a scoring grounds of 1 successful 2 is precisely what you want. He has been doing that pinch Lille for 4 seasons now and is only 25."

And Murphy has different proposal nearer to location successful West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus.

He said: "Kudus is robust, skilful and tin play arsenic a '10' aliases connected nan near aliases right. He is ace beardown and sewage awesome pace."

Manchester City's illness from nan sky-high standards of 4 successive Premier League titles and Arsenal's faltering situation near nan doorway unfastened for Liverpool.

And while nan imaginable of Liverpool adding much powerfulness to a title-winning broadside is simply a daunting prospect, Murphy expects a beardown consequence from their closest rivals adjacent season.

He said: "This will person been a existent jolt and nan footwear up nan backside to nan competitors who astir apt didn't spot Liverpool doing this pinch nan squad they had.

"I fishy Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola would person been sitting location past summertime reasoning 'I'm gladsome Liverpool haven't spent immoderate money'.

"They will respond. They are not stupid. Other clubs will cognize Liverpool will besides footwear connected now and make immoderate awesome signings now they person group nan benchmark."