3 Liverpool players could soon boost Arne Slot's squad as breakout stars of 2026
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.
Arne Slot will be hoping to get more from several of his Liverpool players in 2026, with some young talents and fresh faces ready to take the next steps at Anfield Liverpool Writer, James Findlater Content Editor and Matt Addison Liverpool FC Reporter16:00, 25 Dec 2025Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is aiming for more silverware in 2026(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)Liverpool finds itself behind and playing catch-up in the Premier League title race, but as 2026 unfolds, Arne Slot expects his side to continue improving.Things have looked better in recent weeks, with some players, including Florian Wirtz, starting to look more settled after arriving in the summer. Some of our Liverpool writers have had their say, and you can have yours in the comments section below.READ MORE: Alexander Isak breaks silence in Liverpool message after injury heartbreakREAD MORE: Mohamed Salah's ex-Egypt teammate reveals what Liverpool star is really like off the pitchGiovanni Leoni - Matt AddisonI'll admit, given we have only seen one game from Giovanni Leoni so far, and it came in the League Cup against Southampton, I might be getting slightly ahead of myself.Coming in for a fee of around $35 million (£26 million), however, there is a good reason that Liverpool was so keen to snap the teenager up.
Signing 18-year-olds for such substantial sums is not something that the Reds often do.Giovanni Leoni picked up a serious knee injury on his Liverpool debut(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)When he comes back from injury — whenever that might be — Leoni will need to be carefully managed. The biggest question Liverpool is going to face with him is what it does next.He's in the awkward space of having impressed Arne Slot enough to earn a regular spot in the matchday squad, but still being a bit too young to throw in at the deep end, and so he's missing out on valuable playing time with the academy.Rio Ngumoha is one of Liverpool's most exciting young players(Image: 2025 UEFA)That has to be rectified in 2026.
Come next season, we could be looking at the start of something big.Jeremie Frimpong - James MartinIt’s been a tough start to life at Liverpool for Jeremie Frimpong, who has been beset by injury woes. But he’s finally back with the squad now, and his timing could be ideal.Whether Arne Slot sees fit to trust him as an AFCON stand-in for Mohamed Salah after so little football remains to be seen, but he’s another option at a time when the position is stretched a little thin.