Replace Trent, add new ‘weapon’ Wirtz, future-proof squad: Liverpool’s summer tasksPremium

Arne Slot honed a team built by Jurgen Klopp into a Premier League-winning outfit, opting for refinement over revolution in the short term. But now, ahead of the 2025-26 season, Slot has the opportunity to stamp his mark on Liverpool — and it all starts with the transfer window

When Arne Slot took the reins at Liverpool last year, his task was spelt out clearly by the club’s bosses. “The main aim in what they told me is look at the players, give your opinion about it so we can go into this project in the second and the third year,” Slot said recently.

But under the Dutchman’s guidance, the Merseyside club clinched a record-equalling 20th English league title ahead of schedule, capitalising on Manchester City’s sudden and unexpected fall. Slot inherited a squad that had been built by Jurgen Klopp on four elite pillars — goalkeeper Alisson, centre-back Virgil van Dijk, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and winger Mohamed Salah — and honed it into a serious contender.

Minor tweaks

Slot opted for refinement over revolution in the short term. After signing just Federico Chiesa, nominally Salah’s back-up, in last year’s summer transfer window, he only made minor tweaks to Klopp’s counterpressing, transition-heavy game-model. It did help Slot that Salah had a historic, age-defying season — his 47 goal involvements (29 goals, 18 assists) are a record — but the manager’s patient, steadying influence merits a great deal of praise.

Now, ahead of the 2025-26 season, Slot has the opportunity to stamp his mark on Liverpool. Right through the season, there were questions surrounding the futures of Klopp’s pillars. Alexander-Arnold, Salah and van Dijk were all out of contract this summer while Alisson endured an injury-hit campaign. There is greater clarity around these situations now — as a result, there is no ambiguity about Liverpool’s priorities this summer.

With Alexander-Arnold moving to Real Madrid, Slot has to devise a way to replace a unicorn profile. Salah, soon to be 33, and van Dijk, soon to be 34, have signed short-term extensions, and so the need to future-proof the squad is paramount. And given how small the margins in the Premier League are, Liverpool also has to strengthen its core group with a level-raiser or two.

“I think we can find one or two extra weapons this team doesn’t have,” Slot said. “Maybe, by using the transfer market. That is what we are trying to achieve. That will only make us stronger. That is what we need because we saw City spending £200m in the [January] transfer window. All of them will. Apart from the transfer window, we can also improve certain aspects ourselves.”