Slot could face a bigger Liverpool disaster than Trent

At their greatest below Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool had been a drive of nature. A wrecking ball. The Anfield squad tore by means of opponents with irresistible tempo and energy.

Arne Slot does issues in a different way. The Dutch coach carries a semblance of his predecessor’s model, however his Liverpool present extra management, extra composure, and are firing on all cylinders.

If solely we might protect this group of gifted gamers and hold them collectively for a few years to return. However soccer is topic to frequent change and Liverpool face shedding a few of their prized possessions as Slot’s aspect challenges for the most important honours that Europe has to supply.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, in fact, is the most important challenge that FSG must cope with.

The newest on Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Spanish media have vehemently repeated their understanding that Alexander-Arnold, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season, is on the verge of signing for Actual Madrid in 2025, be that this month or in the summertime.

Anfield sources have tried to allay fears by reiterating, over and over, that nothing is determined and Alexander-Arnold has not spoken of his need to go away for pastures new.

Nevertheless, time is ticking and Fabrizio Romano, an unerring supply of data, has confirmed that Actual are anticipated to make contact with the 26-year-old shortly.

It is turn out to be fairly straightforward to overlook that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the identical boat. Whereas the skilled superstars are expected to pen new deals on Merseyside, there is not any query that each current engaging alternatives for the most important golf equipment throughout the globe.

And that is precisely why FSG must up the fuel, for Liverpool’s captain is of a vested curiosity in a Champions League superpower.

Inter Milan eyeing Liverpool celebrity

Spanish sources revealed in late December that Champions League giants, Inter Milan are excited about signing Van Dijk when his £220k-per-week contract expires on the finish of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.

The 33-year-old defender has been in gorgeous kind this season, renewing Liverpool’s defensive authority and permitting flashier teammates like Salah to steal the headlines.

Van Dijk has been coy when quizzed on his future over the previous few months however is inclined towards persevering with his Liverpool journey, although Serie A champions Inter have been on it for the reason that Autumn and can hope that their laid groundwork might maintain sway, ought to Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes falter on the negotiating desk.

Coupled with the apparent benefit that Van Dijk has a deep-rooted love for Liverpool, additionally they boast monetary superiority that will make it extraordinarily tough for Inter to eclipse a wage providing and tempt Van Dijk into leaving.

Liverpool must tread fastidiously all the identical and get the deal finished with haste. Shedding the Netherlands captain could be the most important catastrophe that might happen on the pink half of Merseyside this 12 months.

Shedding Van Dijk could be the most important catastrophe for Slot

Liverpool signed Southampton’s thrilling centre-back for a world-record (for a defender) £75m fee in January 2018 and it was value each single penny.

Truthfully, Liverpool might have paid double that determine and seemed again on the cope with nothing however satisfaction: Van Dijk remodeled Klopp’s backline and have become the pillar of energy that Liverpool wanted to go on and carry nearly each main honour obtainable, together with the Premier League and Champions League.

He is 33 however nonetheless on the head of soccer’s elite defensive desk. Reporter Lewis Steele encapsulated it a number of days in the past, saying:

“He is been faultless this season and simply one of many Premier League’s standout gamers.”

Van Dijk has really been peerless this time period, protecting eight clear sheets from 18 Premier League matches. When his metrics towards his defensive companions, his affect is simply underscored additional.

Liverpool’s Centre-backs within the Premier League (24/25)
Match Stats*	Van Dijk	Konate	Gomez	Quansah
Matches (begins)	18 (18)	12 (11)	9 (6)	5 (2)
Objectives	1	1	0	0
Assists	1	1	0	0
Clear sheets	8	6	2	0
Touches*	89.5	70.6	54.6	41.2
Go completion	92%	91%	89%	91%
Key passes*	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.0
Ball recoveries*	3.2	3.1	3.8	1.0
Tackles + interceptions*	3.0	1.5	2.2	2.4
Clearances*	4.2	3.3	2.1	1.8
Whole duels (gained)*	4.7 (71%)	4.0 (72%)	2.8 (66%)	3.2 (52%)
Stats by way of Sofascore ( = per sport)*

It is maybe an understated triumph that the 6 foot 5 Dutchman maintains such an imperious degree regardless of the fixed upheaval that has habitually plagued Liverpool’s defensive ranks over time. With out Van Dijk, the Redmen would not have hit related ranges by half.

Is retaining Van Dijk’s signature so vital? Extra vital than that of Alexander-Arnold? These are the pertinent questions as we enter kitchen sink time on the contractual panorama. Liverpool must get it finished, lest a discernible decline cowl Anfield like a darkish blanket over the approaching years.

Slot has been admirably cool within the face of unrelenting questions regarding his non-committal superstars. Look forward, title-winning successes abound for this exceptional Liverpool aspect.

It is clear that this present noise, altering from an annoying background buzz to a crashing din, can’t proceed. Resolutions must occur, no matter they might be.

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Let’s hope that Liverpool can persuade Alexander-Arnold to proceed his journey along with his boyhood membership, however do not forget, Van Dijk must be tied down too – attaining this may be the most important triumph FSG might rating.