Arsenal
The Liverpool Offside 2025-26 Season Preview, Half 1: Arne Slot’s Second Season
It’s in all probability truthful to say that Arne Slot’s first yr in cost at Liverpool went higher than anybody was anticipating. No one critically thought the clearly proficient however comparatively unknown supervisor of Feyenoord would stroll into one among Europe’s prime jobs, change a legend, and cruise to the Premier League title whereas taking part in a model of soccer that felt each a continuation of and efficient tweaking to Jürgen Klopp’s extremely profitable Anfield system.
Not the whole lot went completely, in fact. The staff appeared to expire of fuel late and received an unfortunate Champions League knockout draw that took a little bit shine off issues for a aspect that for a time was being talked up as Europe’s greatest. The Reds additionally benefitted from a down yr for Manchester Metropolis. With a little bit of time and perspective now on season one, we wished to replicate on what was achieved—and dig a little bit into simply what our hopes, considerations, and expectations are for Liverpool the supervisor in yr two of the Slot Period.
Nearly the whole lot that might have gone proper in Arne Slot’s first season did go proper, leading to Liverpool FC lifting their twentieth league title and cementing themselves again atop their perch as England’s most profitable membership.
Liverpool’s near-perfection, coupled with Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis’s incapability to maintain up, meant the Premier League title seemed like one thing of a foregone conclusion as early as February and March. Nevertheless, clear indicators of collected fatigue clearly started to point out late on, particularly towards Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League and Newcastle within the Carabao Cup closing.
Slot has been cautious to not throw gamers beneath the bus throughout his time right here, however there have been mild hints that he may need wished to rotate extra solely didn’t totally belief the decrease rung of the squad sufficient. With the gamers we’ve introduced on this summer time, hopefully which means there are actually extra gamers within the squad that he does belief and the staff will be capable of rotate extra successfully and go deeper in different competitions.
Arne Slot inherited a particularly proficient and settled squad final season that was doubtless in want of a contemporary voice and new perspective. He proved to be a powerful and efficient communicator as he made it clear what he desired for various gamers and completely different roles. He proved to have an eye fixed for expertise as he helped Ryan Gravenberch shortly settle right into a deeper function the place the Dutch midfielder thrived.
Whereas final yr had a dream begin that noticed the membership run by everybody like a buzzsaw for the primary six months, there have been nonetheless indications that Slot didn’t have the belief in lots of the rotational and reserve gamers, resulting in some very drained legs and poor performances as Liverpool wrapped up the Premier League title. Slot additionally by no means actually appeared to search out what he was in search of within the central striker function within the squad, ceaselessly counting on winger Luis Diaz to play in that spot.
Final season was about setting the baseline for Slot’s desired model, however this season will actually be an fascinating look into the path he needs to go in. Loads of money has been splashed to refresh the squad and set Slot as much as take issues to the subsequent degree (hopefully). Whereas it might take a while for the entire gamers to really and totally get settled and built-in, I do assume we’ll see a clearer image of what Slot is in search of in his fullbacks and on the central striker place. I additionally hope we’ll see extra rotation all through the squad within the early season to hopefully enable for a deeper run within the Champions League and extra even performances later within the season.
I’ve not been this excited for a brand new season in a protracted, very long time. It’s not simply the shiny new toys, though they’re shiny and new–and Florian Wirtz specifically seems to be dwelling as much as the hype already–however somewhat the concept that Arne Slot will start transitioning Klopp’s Liverpool into his personal in entrance of our very eyes.
As for expectations, the problem within the early a part of the season shall be to mood them. Our gamers might take some time to mattress in, accidents might occur, unhealthy attracts resulting in early departures from numerous competitions, and so on. The ball continues to be spherical, in spite of everything. That stated, if we’re not competing for the league and effectively into the latter rounds of the Champions League knockout rounds, one thing has gone very fallacious this season.
We additionally would possibly must be affected person if Liverpool usually are not working away from the pack by Christmas, as was the case final season. The Reds play all the opposite English groups who’ve certified for the Champions League throughout the first 11 league matches, and three of them are away from dwelling. That may be a brutal opening stretch nonetheless you come at it, and that’s with out even speaking about Everton and Manchester United, each of whom love coming to Anfield and taking part in for a draw (and infrequently getting it). Nevertheless, if we get by that fairly brutal opening stretch at or close to the highest, be careful.
It’s powerful to set the bar by successful a league title and elevating expectations that the personnel available is sweet sufficient to beat any staff in Europe on their day, however that’s precisely what Slot did in yr one. Sure, the staff he helmed was a beneficiant reward left behind by Jurgen Klopp, however he’s nonetheless the one who was tasked with after which managed to information them to glory.
Now, with the flurry of exercise in the course of the switch window, the membership have totally and formally stepped into a brand new period. Wirtz, Frimpong, Kerkez, and Ekitike all right here. The membership is clearly nonetheless angling for Alexander Isak. There shall be a brand new centre half who arrives. Ambitions and expectations are excessive and with them we’re seeing a model of Liverpool we’ve not been accustomed to.
I don’t assume we’ll handle to win the league on the trot even when we’re higher than final season, however that’s extra right down to anticipating Man Metropolis to rebound from a down yr than anything. However I do assume that we’re going to provide our title defence a correct go, and I count on us to make a deep run in the entire competitions we play a task in.
It’s all on Slot now to determine how you can take the reloaded squad—clearly his squad, now—and mildew it right into a title-winning aspect. Fortunately, there’s a strong core of gamers nonetheless there who can assist information the brand new members and present them what it’ll take to win.
Liverpool’s yr one of many Slot Period had a lot good to seize on to. The re-focus on possession and resting on the ball a minimum of situationally, and a corresponding downtick in accidents that—a minimum of tentatively—I’m keen to say that performed a task in. The emergence of Ryan Gravenberch. Mo Salah having arguably his career-best season. A heartening sample of impactful second half changes. Oh, and league title quantity twenty.
It’s in all probability additionally truthful to say, although, that whereas issues on the membership have been all going proper and Slot clearly had a hand in most if not all of that, issues outdoors his and the membership’s management additionally appeared to essentially, actually go Liverpool’s means final season. Simply don’t let the Arsenal followers know I stated that. Regardless, you possibly can’t pretty discuss Liverpool’s success final yr with out additionally speaking about Manchester Metropolis’s struggles. If Liverpool had gained a home cup or gone additional within the Champions League, it is likely to be simple to wave that away. However they didn’t.
So whereas it feels a little bit wild to be questioning something in any respect after successful the title, we nonetheless don’t actually understand how an Arne Slot aspect would react in a real title race that sees them buying and selling blows with a Metropolis-level heavyweight opponent into the ultimate month of the season. We can even must see if, a yr on and a few very heavy turnover within the switch window later, Slot now has depth choices that he can belief and that may enable Liverpool to execute at a excessive degree from begin to end somewhat than peaking within the autumn as they appeared to final yr.
Liverpool have been very, superb final season. They may must be even higher this time round to defend league title quantity 20. They may must be even higher this time round to progress additional within the Champions League. They may must be even higher this time round to keep away from slip-ups and stumbles within the cups. And there have been quite a lot of adjustments to the squad now, with extra new signings anticipated. I firmly imagine Arne Slot will show to us that 2024-25 wasn’t a fluke—however proving that, it appears to me, is the aim for 2025-26.
