Arne Slot is set to answer 3 important questions as Liverpool transfer claim needs proving right
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Liverpool will almost certainly be in the Champions League next season, but then Arne Slot must answer some big questions alongside his sporting director, Richard HughesArne Slot is facing a big summer at Anfield(Image: Michael Regan - UEFA via Getty Images)Considering how poorly Liverpool has played at times this season, qualifying for the Champions League will feel like an achievement of sorts for Arne Slot and his players.Mohamed Salah and others have made clear that the standards should be much higher than that — and, clearly, they are — but after Erling Haaland's late equalizer for Manchester City against Bournemouth, the Reds are on the brink on making the top five.It is possible that Liverpool still manages to miss out, though it would take a huge goal difference swing. It is even theoretically possible for the Reds to require a playoff to get into the Champions League.READ MORE: Why Bournemouth may need Liverpool to win on final day despite Champions League raceREAD MORE: Liverpool sent clear Alisson transfer message as Arne Slot 'perspective' requiredThe most likely scenario, though, is that Liverpool does enough against Brentford to get over the line.
As yet, he has been unable to show why the Reds broke the British transfer record — and endured a long saga — to bring him in from Newcastle.Had everything else been the same this season, but had Isak been fit from start to finish, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Liverpool might be 10 or so points better off in the Premier League standings.That is the kind of impact that the Swede can make at his best (and indeed why the Reds spent the money on him), but Slot must also find a way of creating many more chances for his number nine.Alexander Isak of Liverpool has been injured an awful lot this season(Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)Isak has only had six shots on target in the Premier League in the whole of this season — Mohamed Salah had four in one game against West Ham last term and 61 in total — and it is not just because of his injuries that he has struggled.Liverpool brought in Isak and Florian Wirtz for a reason, but it needs to find a way of getting the most out of the pair. Tactically, the approach needs refining.Can Florian Wirtz play number 10 and Liverpool still look solid in midfield?Having spent so much money on Wirtz, it makes sense that he should be given a central role in the Liverpool team.
Wirtz, however, is seemingly best in the long-term being in the middle with two quick wide players to play balls into.In general, the Liverpool midfield has looked lightweight for much of this season. And there is a legitimate question to ask about whether, if Wirtz plays as the number 10, the midfield unit can ever be solid enough as a collective with the current personnel.Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate during a Liverpool training session(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)If Wirtz is one of the midfield three, that means only two players are deeper to protect the Liverpool center-backs.