The pressure is on Arne Slot to turn Liverpool’s form around, but Craig Burley has voiced his concerns over two big names who are cause for concern for the Dutchman.
It felt like the Reds were turning a corner coming into 2026.
The 12 games they have gone without losing points to that being the case, but results like the one against 19th-placed Burnley at Anfield make it difficult to maintain that positive feeling.
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What is your message to Arne Slot after Liverpool’s clash with Burnley?
12 games unbeaten, but it feels like Slot is on thin ice…
Arne Slot during Liverpool vs Burnley at Anfield
Credit: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
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That’s not the only reason to be pessimistic, according to Burley. He has big worries about two of Liverpool’s biggest names.
Craig Burley warns Arne Slot about Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk
Last season, Liverpool’s journey to Premier League glory was dominated by discussions of three players whose contracts were coming to an end.
Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid, but both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk were handed two-year extensions.
It was seen as the right decision, but Burley has concerns that the two are getting up there, and rebounding from this bad form won’t be as straightforward.
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Appearing on ESPN, the former Chelsea player reckons Slot will be given to the summer, but failure to make drastic improvements before then could be detrimental, not just to this season, but to the following campaign as well.
He says: “Well, he’s got the salah issue. Next year, one year older. Van Dijk starting to struggle. One year older. So, it doesn’t get any easier when you get into your 30s like that and you start to struggle.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah appeal to the referee during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
“It’s much more difficult to have a bad season when you’re 33, 34 and flick a switch and come back in the summer and have a great season.
“It’s much easier to do that when you’re 26, 27, 28. So, if he can’t address it, the chances of the form of these players getting better next year are very slim.”
Van Dijk hasn’t been at his imperious best this season, and we all know about Salah’s struggles.
The last time Egypt crashed out of a major competition, Salah’s form suffered at Liverpool. And before heading to Morocco, things weren’t exactly smooth sailing.
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Sadio Mane pats the Champions League trophy after Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid (Credit: Getty Images/Jose Breton/NurPhoto).
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Southampton in the Premier League at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Julian Finney).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Julian Finney
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Those two are the identity of Liverpool. If they can’t get back to their usual levels this season, it could pose some difficult questions in the summer. We know the plan is to rebuild at centre-back — if they can actually get the deals done this time around.
Personally, I think Van Dijk has it in him to play into his late thirties like a Thiago Silva, but it’s hard to shake the feeling Salah’s future lies away from Anfield. The next few months will be telling in that regard.
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