Arne Slot has enjoyed a remarkable start to life at Liverpool Football Club as he appears to have the team prepared to fight on all fronts this season.
Slot’s side breezed to a 100% record from their first three UEFA Champions League fixtures and amassed an impressive 22 points from the opening nine league games.
While Slot’s appointment has proved to be a huge success so far, there is still significant work to be done if the team is to reach the peaks that they managed under their previous manager. This will require key signings in the next couple of transfer windows.
A New Left-Back is Crucial
Andrew Robertson has shown signs that he’s on the decline this season, while Kostas Tsimikas has strung together several impressive performances – most notably in the UCL where he has helped The Reds emerge as top five in the Champions League odds at 17/2.
However, if Liverpool are to truly close the gap on Europe’s best, including Manchester City who are the outright favourites in the Champions League title odds, a new left-back signing is crucial.
We all love Robbo, but is it finally time for Kostas Tsimikas to start getting some game time as a ? pic.twitter.com/B0IGEy7wEC
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) October 27, 2024
While Robertson has started to show his age and Tsimikas is nothing more than a fine squad player, Liverpool’s issue at left back is not necessarily to do with raw quality. The main issue for Slot in this position is that he requires a player who is comfortable tucking into the midfield on occasion, rather than overlapping the winger.
This sort of player profile will have to be recruited through the transfer market as both of Liverpool’s options are pure wingbacks, who possess athleticism but aren’t necessarily comfortable when working in tight central spaces.
Antonee Robinson and Perves Estupinan are two left-backs who are already playing in the Premier League and have been linked to The Reds in the past. If Slot’s recruitment team look abroad for a new starting option, then the likes of Maximilian Mittelstadt from VfB Stuttgart or Alex Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen would be top options.
Liverpool’s left-back problem will not be cheap to fix as there are not many top-level fullbacks around in the current footballing climate.
Liverpool Must Finally Recruit a Number-Six
Liverpool attempted to recruit a defensive midfielder in the summer to go alongside Slot’s arrival, but their efforts were not successful.
The recruitment team attempted to bring in Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad – a player who ultimately had a change of heart and decided to continue at his boyhood club.
Zubimendi is .#WeareReal pic.twitter.com/W3IiQVbsJj
— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) October 24, 2024
Slot has not been made to pay for the lack of a natural number six in his team so far, although long-term – like at left back – a specialist in this position could help take the team to the next level. This would not only help to defend against opposition transitions but would give the number eight more freedom.
Ideally, The Reds will be able to finally persuade Zubimendi to join the club sometime along the line. However, if they do have to look elsewhere, Morton Hjulmand from Sporting Club of Portugal, or Konraid Laimer – if he can be prised away from Bayern Munich – would make ideal alternatives.
If Liverpool can find a solution to their imminent contract issues and recruit new starters in these two positions, then they could be ready to win the biggest honours, sooner rather than later, under Slot.