Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield exceeded every expectation. Taking over from the beloved Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman guided Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 2020, silencing doubters who questioned whether the club was entering a period of transition. Now, with a summer of significant personnel changes on the horizon, the question becomes whether Slot can evolve his approach to deliver back-to-back championships.
To borrow a phrase from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, “you’ve got to fix the roof while the sun is shining.” With that in mind, Liverpool enter the 2025/26 season as favourites to retain the title, currently priced at 2/1 with Gambling.com.
The Red’s summer business tells the story of a club expertly managing both sentiment and ambition. The contract renewals of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk felt like new signings themselves, ending months of uncertainty that had fans fearing the worst. These are the pillars around which Slot built his title-winning team, and their retention provides crucial continuity.
Yet the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer represents more than just losing a world-class right-back. Alexander-Arnold was the embodiment of Liverpool’s attacking philosophy under Klopp, a player whose crossing ability and set-piece delivery were integral to how the team functioned. His loss forces Slot to reimagine one of the most creative aspects of Liverpool’s play.
The arrival of Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5 million signals Slot’s intent to maintain Liverpool’s attacking thrust from full-back positions while potentially offering something different. Frimpong brings explosive pace and a more direct running style than Alexander-Arnold’s metronomic passing game. His success at Bayer Leverkusen in a title-winning side suggests he understands how to contribute to winning football, though adapting to the Premier League’s intensity will be crucial.
The potential signing of Florian Wirtz would represent a seismic shift in Liverpool’s creative dynamics. While Alexander-Arnold provided creativity from deep, Wirtz offers it from advanced midfield positions. This could see Slot deploy a more centralised creative hub, reducing the reliance on full-backs to provide width and instead utilising the German’s ability to unlock defences through the middle.
Milos Kerkez’s reported arrival would complete the full-back transformation, giving Slot a dynamic left-back option to complement Frimpong on the opposite flank. The Hungarian’s attacking instincts align with Liverpool’s tradition of marauding full-backs, ensuring the team’s width isn’t compromised despite tactical tweaks.
Last season, Slot was notably conservative with his rotation, partly due to his need to learn about his inherited squad and partly because few expected Liverpool to mount a serious title challenge. His reluctance to change a winning formula was understandable, but it also highlighted areas where squad depth was questionable.
The expected departures of Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Nunez, and potentially Luis Diaz might seem like Liverpool are weakening their options, but it actually represents strategic squad sculpting. Elliott never quite established himself in Slot’s system, while Nunez’s inconsistency in front of goal became increasingly problematic as the season progressed.
These departures, combined with Slot’s now intimate knowledge of his squad, should enable more tactical flexibility. The Dutchman can afford to be braver with team selection, knowing exactly which players can handle specific situations. This could be crucial in managing the demands of competing on multiple fronts while keeping key players fresh for the business end of the season.
What’s most encouraging for Liverpool is Slot’s demonstrated ability to adapt. His first season showed tactical intelligence and man-management skills that few predicted. Now, with a deeper understanding of his players and the Premier League’s demands, he’s positioned to take his tactical evolution to the next level.
The summer’s business suggests a Liverpool team that will be different from last season’s champions – potentially more creative centrally, more direct in wide areas, and certainly more flexible in terms of tactical options. Whether that translates to back-to-back titles will depend on how quickly these new pieces fit together and whether Slot’s tactical nous can extract maximum value from his remodelled squad.
The early signs suggest Liverpool aren’t just planning to defend their title – they’re planning to evolve while doing it.
