With Jurgen Klopp departing Anfield on the finish of final season and Dutchman Arne Slot coming in with massive boots to fill, virtually no one anticipated Liverpool to be within the title race this season. Liverpool followers themselves had been beneath the impression they would wish to present Slot a 12 months or two to settle in on Merseyside and discover his toes within the Premier League.
But, fast-forward to at present, and the Reds have been topped champions, claiming again the title for the primary time since 2020 with relative ease. Manchester Metropolis struggled, whereas Arsenal’s hopes had been derailed by the March worldwide break.
Liverpool could have hit the jackpot with Slot, however the former Feyenoord boss has set the bar extremely excessive for himself going ahead.
Defending the Premier League title might be no simple feat subsequent season, and the early soccer odds counsel their rivals are already gearing as much as knock them off their perch. Need to know who’s high of the desk this week? Proper now, it’s Liverpool—however to remain there, the membership should make key enhancements within the switch market.
Listed below are three areas that want consideration if the Reds are to go back-to-back in 2025-26.
Proper-back
Liverpool’s title celebrations have been considerably bittersweet within the closing phases of the season, as Trent Alexander-Arnold reached an settlement to affix Actual Madrid on a free switch on the finish of the marketing campaign. The information has not gone down nicely with the Reds, who’ve even gone so far as to boo the full-back throughout video games.
Conor Bradley has already confirmed himself to be an acceptable substitute within the final season or two, however his damage document is a trigger for concern, and he actually can’t address the busy schedule of the fashionable sport.
To not fear, although. Liverpool bosses have moved rapidly to herald a substitute for Alexander-Arnold, advancing in talks with Jeremie Frimpong.
The total-back has been lighting up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, and with a launch clause of round £30 million, it’s a discount in at present’s market. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see who wins the battle for the beginning spot between Bradley and Frimpong, however they’re each high quality children.
Striker
Whereas Arsenal have arguably missed out on the Premier League for the final three years because of the lack of a high striker, Liverpool managed to see out the job with out one themselves. That’s largely because of Mohamed Salah’s contributions.
On the time of writing, the Egyptian King scored 28 targets and supplied 18 assists in the Premier League, and the Kop will proceed singing his title into subsequent 12 months as he signed a contract extension regardless of it not wanting seemingly at one level.
However Liverpool can’t rely solely on Salah, and the membership is lastly on the finish of their tether with Darwin Nunez. Issues have clearly not clicked after three seasons in England, having joined from Benfica for £64 million, whereas the injury-prone Diogo Jota may be on the best way out.
Newcastle United’s talisman Alexander Isak has been closely linked with a transfer to Liverpool, however his companies will value nicely in extra of £100 million—and who is aware of if the membership will fork that out?
Centre-back
Virgil van Dijk’s contract renewal is one other huge bonus for Liverpool going into the summer season and subsequent season, however the Reds’ recruitment staff will seemingly nonetheless be out there for a brand new centre-back within the switch window.
Ibrahima Konate has solely a 12 months left on his present contract, and Liverpool may money on this summer season to keep away from one other scenario like they had this 12 months. 22-year-old Jarell Quansah doesn’t look able to step up and be a daily starter for Slot both.
Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen was reportedly an possibility after impressing for the Cherries this season, and his £50 million launch clause made him much more enticing. Nevertheless, Liverpool look like at the peril of Madrid once more, as Huijsen is about to be within the well-known white of Los Blancos subsequent season.
If Liverpool can plug these three gaps over the summer season, Slot would possibly simply be capable to do the unthinkable and ship back-to-back Premier League titles in his first two seasons. However with the margins on the high getting finer annually, decisive recruitment is extra essential than ever.
