Arne Slot may have two audiences to convince, but his message has been consistent this week. Liverpool’s future will be brighter, he said in the aftermath of their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain. Which, some would say, it has to be; they do not want another season like this. And certainly not if the current campaign, which is certain to finish without silverware, ends without securing Champions League football for next year.
But if, of the two groups of people Slot needs to persuade that he can oversee that improvement, owners Fenway Sports Group and their representatives at Anfield, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, may be more receptive than a sceptical fanbase. Slot accepts that they will need to glimpse the evidence to support his optimism. “I think people only start to believe when they are seeing it,” Slot said. “That’s what we need to do after the summer, but we are mainly focused here on the upcoming six games because that could also impact our plans for the summer at this club.”
As it is, Slot sees a way in which he feels things have got better. “Just compare us with the start of the season and where we are now, compare the players we have signed with the start of the season and where we are now. I see a difference, in a positive way,” he said. Others may not: Liverpool have lost four of their last five games in all competitions; in the Premier League, they have only taken 20 points from the last 14. The signing whose start offered most optimism, Hugo Ekitike, is out for this season and the beginning of next with an Achilles injury.
It has been a season of injuries: to Ekitike and Alexander Isak, to Giovanni Leoni and Alisson, to anyone resembling a specialist right-back. It amounts to a reason Slot thinks next year will be better. “Will there ever be another season where we concede so many goals in extra time?” he asked. “I don’t think that is even possible, so that would even add six, seven or eight points to our total. Will we ever have a season with so many injuries again? You can’t rule it out, but it is not realistic to have so much bad luck.”
He attributes some of Liverpool’s difficulties to misfortune, citing meetings with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. “We went out in the FA Cup and the Champions League against, in my opinion, the two best teams in open play at the moment, with two incredible managers. So that is also the reality that we have been unlucky with the draw,” he added.
None of which guarantees an upturn in 2026-27. Not when Liverpool have spent a fortune but look in need of a further rebuilding job. They know they are two players down for next season, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson leaving, though Kostas Tsimikas could return from loan at Roma to fill the void at left-back. Slot acknowledged the uncertainty if the out-of-contract Ibrahima Konate will stay, but there will be a centre-back arrival, in Jeremy Jacquet.
But Slot has both talked about Liverpool’s self-sustaining model and hinted that there will not be a major overhaul. “So the first aim is acting in the position of Mo,” he said. It will be easier to find a replacement who can replicate Salah’s relatively slight impact in the Premier League this season – six goals, six assists – than his superhuman efforts last year, when he scored 29 and made 18.
Ekitike’s injury complicates matters; it may alter Liverpool’s attacking recruitment. As it is, they have never really replaced Luis Diaz. If the only fit out-and-out centre-forward is the injury-prone Isak, it gives them further grounds to buy a versatile attacker who can take a turn as the No 9.
“You always take into account which players you are having available for large parts of next season and then you think, ‘what’s there on the market, what can we afford, who wants to come to us?’” said Slot. “So it is not as simple as people think it is. ‘There is a good player walking around, let’s sign him’.”
So if Liverpool need someone attainable and affordable, the hint is that they will also look at a younger player. “A lot of other clubs are very focused on the short term, but this club tries to combine that with the long term,” said Slot. “So a lot of factors go into a decision and one of them is definitely Hugo being out and the other one is what is available and what does the rest of the team look like and what do we need.”
What do Liverpool need? Some would provide a lengthy list, and not merely at least two forwards, another right-back, perhaps a midfielder. There are qualities they have lacked this year, too: consistency and cohesion, intensity and energy. Some would say they need a new manager. Slot’s argument is that next season will be better with him in charge. He must hope he gets to test that theory.
