The transition between Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot has been surprisingly smooth at Anfield.
The former Feyenoord manager inherited a world-class squad from his predecessor but still had the enviable challenge of following Liverpool’s most successful manager since Bob Paisley. For a manager previously untested in the Premier League, those are heavy shoes to fill.
However, the Dutchman has made light work of the task. He has guided the Reds to the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, as well as securing safe passage to the last four of the Carabao Cup.
Slot has managed to oversee such rapid progress without the aid of a huge budget. Liverpool signed just two players in the summer, one is a goalkeeper who was loaned out and the other was the £12.5m signing of Federico Chiesa, who has featured rarely this term.
With Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, perhaps excited by the prospect of an outstanding season, they could loosen the purse strings in January. transfer window
Here are the zones Liverpool will be willing to point.
Liverpool don’t have many areas of weakness, but one that could do with strengthening is the left-back department. It has been a position the Reds have been able to ignore for a long time, as has been the consistency and quality of Andy Robertson, who has made more than 300 appearances since joining the club in 2017.
However, the Scot has consistently produced below-best performances this season and there are concerns about his ability to mix it with the best after a difficult few months. Robertson will turn 31 in March and is unlikely to regain his label as Europe’s leading left-back.
Kostas Tsimikas has enjoyed a very positive season so far, but has proved an unconvincing option in the past. The Greek defender, who will be 29 at the end of the current campaign, is unlikely to be Robertson’s long-term successor.
Key objectives
Liverpool have been linked with left-backs frequently over the past year. Robertson’s decline began last season, but his struggles in 2024/25 are likely to force the Reds into the market sooner rather than later.
from Fulham Antonee Robinson is one of the names touted for a move from Liverpool, with the United States international showing exactly what is on offer during a visit to Anfield in mid-December. The 27-year-old has hinted that a move to one of Europe’s elite could be on the cards, as long as his age does not act as an obstacle.
Alfonso Davies He is certainly a player that Liverpool should follow. The Bayern Munich defender is out of contract next summer and is expected to leave Bavaria. with Real Madrid and Barcelona running around. Pulling off such a coup could be tricky, though.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri and that of Bournemouth Milos Kerkez both have been linked with Anfield previously, the latter being a particularly exciting goal. Kerkez’s fellow Hungarian, Dominik Szoboszlai, could vouch for the move.
Defensive midfield was an area Liverpool were desperate to strengthen in the summer. The Reds have never replaced Fabinho since his departure two summers ago and their best number six was a topic of debate last season. In the end, surprise arrival Wataru Endo ran the engine room frequently.
However, clearly not enamored with the Japanese skipper, Slot was eager to strengthen the center of the park during his first transfer window in charge. Liverpool’s search for a new defensive midfielder ultimately failed, forcing Slot to get creative.
The Dutchman deployed compatriot Ryan Gravenberch as Liverpool’s deepest midfielder in a dual pivot with Alexis Mac Allister, with the 22-year-old doing a remarkable job in his new role. While there is no need to replace their new defensive midfield gem, he may need support for the final months of the season.
Key objectives
Martin Zubimendi he was the man Liverpool courted in the summer, though the Real Sociedad midfielder has brought them down. They weren’t the only club to be snubbed by the Euro 2024 winner, who is unlikely to feature on their radar this winter.
There are no guarantees that Liverpool will strengthen their midfield, of course, with Endo and Tyler Morton in reserve. But an acquisition with experience and ability could be useful, with Atalanta Ederson having been linked frequently during the summer.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba Liverpool are also reported to be interested after an impressive promotion to the south coast. The 20-year-old would certainly fit the club’s criteria for new signings.
Darwin Nunez has been at the center of much discussion about Liverpool over the past two seasons. The Uruguayan arrived on a big-money deal in 2022 and has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, going hot and cold far too often.
There is a feeling that Liverpool can finally cut their losses with Nunez at the end of the season, unless there is a drastic turnaround in their fortunes in the second half of the campaign, or at least strengthen their forward line to ensure I know they don’t. overly dependent on the fiery South American.
Of course, the Reds would be happy to start Diogo Jota every week and he remains Liverpool’s most natural finisher. But his injury problems have been ever-present since the move to Merseyside and he cannot be relied upon to play 50-60 games a season.
Key objectives
It would be remiss of Liverpool not to consider one of the most sought-after center forwards in Europe, Victor Gyokeres. A January move looks unlikely for the Sporting CP star and the presence of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United may persuade the Swedish marksman to move to the Reds’ rivals, but he is certainly an elite talent who would improve the Slot team.
of Inter Marcus Thuram is another powerful striker capable of making waves in the Premier League. The French has been provisionally linked with the Reds after dazzling in Italy, where he scored 13 and set up a further 13 as the Nerazzurri won Serie A in 2023/24.
Jonathan David is another talent worth keeping an eye on. The Lille and Canada striker is out of contract next summer and could agree a pre-contract with Liverpool in the winter window. He scored 19 in Ligue 1 last season.
