Salah STAYS, Nunez OUT: How Liverpool could line up under Arne Slot

Updated: 29 Apr 2024 05:49 CDT
4 min read

Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

It’s been a big week for Liverpool, with Arne Slot agreeing to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager and the news that Mohamed Salah will likely stay on at Anfield for at least another season.

FootballTransfers reported in January that Salah was tending towards remaining at Anfield and even signing a new contract, with his current deal up in 2025.

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David Ornstein has confirmed this tendency in a report for the Athletic, which indicates that Salah is likely to be at the disposal of Slot as he settles into his new job on Merseyside.

With this positive news still reverberating around Liverpool, how are the Reds likely to line up for next season?

Liverpool starting XI under Arne Slot

Slot has mostly used a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 system during his time at Feyenoord and his style is certainly reminiscent of Klopp’s ‘heavy-metal football’ given his preference for a high-energy, attacking system.

With that in mind, he could be the perfect next Liverpool manager.

Alisson would remain in between the sticks if Slot arrives, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson could be unleashed like they were during Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning side.

Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk would likely be Slot’s preferred centre-back duo, although Jarell Quansah’s development may also be boosted by his arrival.

In midfield, Slot may look to bring in Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord. The Dutch international knows Slot’s system and he would likely be an upgrade on Wataru Endo, who is a reliable player but is certainly replaceable.

Wieffer could be deployed in the middle of Slot’s midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister to his left and Dominik Szoboszlai to his right. Wieffer and Mac Allister could also work in a double pivot, with Szoboszlai deployed as a No.10.

Salah's likely stay solves one problem for Slot on the wing, while there is remains a possibility that Luis Diaz will depart. If the Colombia star stays, though, he surely starts.

In regards to the centre-forward position, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota would be the leading contenders in the current Liverpool squad, but Slot could look to bring Santiago Gimenez with him from the Eredivisie.

The Mexican has scored 24 goals in all competitions so far this season and knows how Slot likes his striker to operate.