Liverpool has work to do this summer, with Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes needing to change things in the transfer market and on the training field
06:00, 07 May 2026
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has one eye on the summer
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has one eye on the summer(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Unless there is a dramatic turnaround, Liverpool will be playing Champions League soccer next term. And when the new season kicks off, it will need to improve substantially to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal again.
Last time out, there was a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Despite recent victories over the likes of Fulham and Everton, a first half to forget against Manchester United proved costly. A look at the teamsheet at Old Trafford showed an area to address when the summer comes too.
Young talents like Will Wright, Mor Ndiaye and Armin Pecsi were among those in reserve. Realistically, unless the injury crisis expanded during the game, none were likely to make it onto the field.
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Eighteen-year-old Trey Nyoni has come on plenty of times this term — 11 in total under Arne Slot, in addition to two starts — but even he didn't get thrown into the action here. His role next season is likely to grow.
But compare the Liverpool bench at Old Trafford to Manchester City's at Everton a day later: James Trafford, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho.
It must be said, of course, that Liverpool was without several key men through injury. Losing both first and second choice goalkeepers, Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, is highly unusual.
Slot has endured a tough season
Slot has endured a tough season(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
It is incredibly unfortunate to have been without Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah all at the same time, and there have been long-term absences for Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo.
What this season has shown, however, is that injuries can be commonplace. Liverpool has to ensure that it has enough depth in key areas to be able to manage better moving forward.
How long Ekitike remains sidelined for remains to be seen. How quickly the likes of Bradley and Leoni get back up to speed after so long on the treatment table is another unknown.
While Jeremy Jacquet will come in to add an extra body at center-back and it appears that Ibrahima Konate will sign a new contract to keep him at the club, better depth in other areas will be required.
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There is an argument for adding some fresh blood in midfield, but that will likely depend on who leaves amid speculation surrounding both Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister.
More importantly, there is a clear need for more pace and speed in wide areas — a replacement for Salah — to inject some more energy into a department that has lacked creativity and spark of late.
And improving on squad players like Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo, bringing in players who are more trusted to play substantial roles to offer genuine rotation, would be a major upgrade.
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Liverpool knows this season has not been up to its usual standards. The summer will offer the chance to catapult itself back to where it expects to be.