dyton mupawaenda
LIVERPOOL’S relative stroll towards a 20th title carries a heavy warning signal to the rivals who must now attempt to knock the English Premier League football crown off their heads next season.
Arne Slot’s seamless transition into what many regarded as the impossible task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp has not only resulted in a triumph achieved with relative comfort, it has been done without any serious strengthening of the squad he inherited.
This is testimony to his inheritance from Klopp, but also to the shrewd strategy he employed to such triumphant effect.
Liverpool signed Valencia’s Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in a deal worth up to £29m last summer in readiness for next season, while the only outfield player to arrive was Juventus winger Federico Chiesa in a £10m move, the Italian proving no more than a peripheral figure.
The platform remains — but Liverpool will now go into overdrive this summer, with their recruitment team, under sporting director Richard Hughes, well on with preparations to add heavyweight reinforcements. Liverpool’s past mantra is add from a position of strength — and you do not get much stronger than the status of Premier League champions.
So where will they strengthen, and who might they bring in?
Alisson unchallenged
Brazil’s Alisson Becker is 32, not old for a goalkeeper, and has strong claims to be the world’s best.
Barring something unforeseen, he will be first choice again next season, with Mamardashvili providing strong competition.
This means Caoimhin Kelleher will surely leave. There will be plenty of suitors for a goalkeeper who has proved his quality and consistency in the Premier League.
Robertson under threat?
There are questions in defence, especially in the full-back positions, while even Virgil van Dijk’s decision to sign a new contract may not rule out additions at centre-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, while Andrew Robertson is 31, with speculation rife that Bournemouth’s Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez will arrive as his successor.
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: “Van Dijk is staying and will be the mainstay, so whether there is an addition depends on Arne Slot’s view on Joe (Gomez) and Jarell Quansah.
The amount of minutes they have played this season is very limited, so that suggests to me that he wants some back-up there. “Virgil is coming up to 34 so they will want to get someone who will play a lot of games. If Van Dijk gets injured there is no-one there with anywhere near his presence.
“There have been rumours about Dean Huijsen at Bournemouth, who is a super young talent, but I’d like to see someone a bit further down the line in their development.
“The names that spring to mind will not be easy, maybe impossible, to get but you think of Micky van de Ven at Spurs, Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
“They are used to the Premier League and all different.” — BBC Sport/Sports Reporter.
Online Reporter