Lewis Steele: “Slot will learn more from times of hardship” | OneFootball

Arne Slot’s Brilliant Debut Season and What Liverpool Must Learn

Liverpool’s season under Arne Slot has been nothing short of brilliant. As the Dutchman edges closer to delivering the Premier League title, fans and pundits alike are analysing what the team has done right—and what needs to improve. On the Media Matters Podcast for Anfield Index, Daily Mail writer Lewis Steele sat down with Dave Davis to break down the current state of play.

Learning from the Last Few Games

Slot’s Liverpool side have stormed ahead in the league, but their recent cup disappointments have been a learning curve. Steele pointed out that “you learn more from times of hardship”, emphasising that the past few weeks have shown Slot the limitations of his squad.

While the team has been dominant, there are areas that need strengthening. Steele noted that “the front six isn’t good enough”, suggesting that while the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Luis Díaz have shown flashes of quality, Liverpool need more. He added, “Gravenberch’s looked on his feet in the last month for me—brilliant all season, but he needs to be rotated more.”

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Slot’s Approach and Trust in His Squad

One key talking point was Slot’s preference for a tight-knit squad. He has relied on a core group of players, but Steele questioned whether this has been taken too far. “Has he at times maybe taken that too far?” he asked, pointing to the lack of rotation in games against weaker opposition.

Slot’s trust in his key players is admirable, but Steele suggested that some squad members, such as Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo, “should have got a start here or there”. The concern is that over-reliance on a small group has led to fatigue at a crucial stage of the season.

The Future of Liverpool’s Attack

Liverpool’s forward line is a topic of much debate. While Mohamed Salah remains the team’s talisman, Steele noted that his influence has been overwhelming: “He’s contributed to 51% of Liverpool’s goals this season.” The issue, however, is that when Salah is off-form, the rest of the attack struggles.

Steele pointed out that “it has at times felt a little bit like Salah or no one”. In past title-winning sides, if Salah had an off day, Sadio Mané or Roberto Firmino could step up. Now, that depth in decisive moments appears lacking. “You don’t really see Diaz winning games on his own,” he noted, calling for reinforcements this summer.

Liverpool have been linked with big names like Alexander Isak and Julián Álvarez, but Steele remained sceptical. “Liverpool really gonna do £150 million on one player?” he questioned, highlighting the financial constraints and uncertainty surrounding potential departures.

The Big Contract Decisions

With key players like Virgil van Dijk and Salah approaching the final stages of their contracts, major decisions loom. Steele dismissed the idea of a mass exodus, saying, “Virgil makes everyone look better”, stressing his leadership on and off the pitch.

Similarly, he emphasised that Salah’s potential departure would be impossible to replace. “If Salah leaves, the new boy is a downgrade. There’s no player in Europe that can contribute those numbers to a team.”

Steele concluded that while change is coming, Liverpool must retain their core identity: “I generally don’t think there’s any logic whatsoever in letting them go.”

Final Thoughts

Arne Slot’s first season has been a triumph, but lessons must be learned. Rotation, squad depth, and contract renewals will define Liverpool’s future. If Slot gets these decisions right, this could be the start of a new golden era.