On the field life could not have got off to much of a better start for new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
After a number of impressive pre-season performances, his Reds side hit their stride in the second half of Saturday's Premier League opener at Ipswich Town.
Next up for Liverpool is a home clash with Brentford at Anfield on Sunday (4.30pm). That will be the final Premier League match before the close of the transfer window.
As has been well documented, the Reds remain the only club in the English top flight yet to make a 1st team signing.
Slot and new sporting director Richard Hughes missed out on an addition for the here and now when Martin Zubimendi performed a transfer U-turn
The word from inside the AXA Training Centre is that the Spain international midfielder was the only No.6 the club was targeting during the transfer window.
That has surprised sections of the Liverpool fanbase, who believe a midfield holder should be the club's number one priority.
However, former Premier League winner Chris Sutton believes Hughes and FSG CEO of Football Michael Edwards have a more pressing concern -
that's agreeing new contracts with captain Van Dijk and star right-back Trent who along with main marksman Salah, are all now in the final year of their Reds deals
Sutton
“Everyone’s talking about the number six position and strengthening there, but there are other issues that Liverpool have got such as trying to tie down Trent Alexander-Arnold,”
“He’s out of contract next summer, as is Virgil van Dijk, who are two massive players for the club. Addressing that should be the priority for them over the next few months.
“I actually think Liverpool’s squad in forward areas have serious strength in depth, but that central defensive midfield role doesn’t.
“I know a lot of clubs are trying to find themselves a Rodri-type player and that’s proving difficult.”
“They were in for Martin Zubimendi who turned them down, which was a little bit of a surprise, but I suspect it’s all about getting in better than what you’ve got, and that’s what Slot will be thinking.”
Sutton Continued
“Mohamed Salah would have to be near the top when talking about the all-time greatest players in the Premier League,”
“He’d be in that bunch at the top of the list for sure. His output every single season for Liverpool since he joined them has been phenomenal and he’s turned out to be one of their best ever players in this current era.
“Although he’s got different hair this season, he’s still very much the same player! He looked sharp, motivated and ready in that game against Ipswich, and he’ll be a big player for Arne Slot this season.
“They haven’t brought anyone else in yet, but the core of their squad is very strong and that’s a good omen for the new manager.”
Sutton further commented :
“It’s interesting to see the brand of football which Slot is trying to implement there, it’s not the blood and thunder of Jurgen Klopp.
“They seem to want to be more possession based and I thought it was a good win for them over the weekend.
“I thought Ipswich gave them a game for an hour but they eventually wore them down and the quality that Salah has shone through.”
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