This is how Arne Slot’s Liverpool side could look next season if he was appointed as manager of the club.
Changes are afoot at Anfield. With Jurgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, Liverpool have been behind the scenes to find his replacement.
And it seems very likely that they might have just found him. Arne Slot seems to be inching closer to be appointed as the club’s new manager.
He is very much the favourite for the Liverpool job at this stage, and it seems likely that he will be in the dugout for the club next season.
It’s an interesting appointment for Liverpool. Slot is not a well-known name in English football, but he does have an excellent track record in the Netherlands. He’s playing style also very closely resembles Jurgen Klopp’s.
How Arne Slot could line-up with Liverpool next season
Like Klopp Slot’s football is focused on high intensity. He wants his players to press forward and create overloads all over the pitch.
Expect Liverpool to play a very similar kind of pressing football under Slot next season. This definitely won’t change from Klopp’s tenure.
But there are key differences in the way Slot likes to play football as well. His build-up is a lot more controlled. Meanwhile, in the final third Feyenoord are known to play quick incisive passes, and are very good at breaking down opponents.
Slot also traditionally plays with a slight variance to Klopp’s 4-3-3 formation. Slot’s formation is probably more closer to a 4-2-3-1 with two deep lying midfielders and one more advanced one.
In terms of how Liverpool could line-up, there won’t be too many changes at the back. Alisson Becker will be in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson will make up the back four.
In midfield, it would not be a surprise to see Slot bring in another holding midfielder. However, at this current moment in time, the two deep lying roles suit Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo the best.
Meanwhile, the more advanced midfielder could be Dominik Szoboszlai or Harvey Elliott.
Up top, expect the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota to maintain very similar roles in the front three.
Who could Arne Slot sign for Liverpool?
In terms of where Slot may look to strengthen, it would not be a surprise to see him bring in a left-sided centre-back.
David Hancko is someone who has done very well under the Dutch manager, and he’s been followed by Liverpool as well so he is an obvious choice.
As mentioned above, Slot could also look at bringing in a holding midfielder. But the Reds could also strengthen at left-back, and depending on what happens with the club’s attackers, they may also be in the market for a new player for the forward line.