Jamie Carragher has said Arne Slot needs to make three signings to improve this Liverpool squad ahead of next season.
There weren’t many signs of weakness as the Reds edged towards the Premier League title on Sunday, a day on from Arsenal’s slip-up against West Ham United. Liverpool followed that up emphatically with a 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad to move 11 points clear at the top of the table, although the leaders have played a game more than Arsenal.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai got the all-important goals in a game where Slot made a number of tactical alterations. Liverpool managed just 34 percent possession and played with two floating No. 10s rather than a traditional striker.
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It was an atypical approach from Slot but one that paid dividends as the Reds perfectly picked their moments to hit the opposition on the break. However, that he opted not to play a center-forward gives a bleak outlook on Darwin Nunez’s position in the current squad.
He’s one of a number of players Slot clearly doesn’t trust to start games, along with the likes of Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa. Carragher wrote this week that the regular starters look "overburdened" at present and warned that could lead to burnout.
He shared a similar opinion in the wake of the win over City and referenced how Slot needs to strengthen the pool of players he trusts to start games, despite finally declaring it's a "matter of when not if" Liverpool wins the title.
“Slot is going to know this squad a lot better going into next season,” the former defender said on Sky Sports. “He only really uses 14 or 15 players and there are probably four or five that he doesn't rate. I am not being critical but he will know what this team needs.
“Even if this team is going to win the league, I think there are still three positions in this team that can be improved quite a bit. It is not about bringing four or five squad players in.
"I think a left-back could come in, a center-forward and an attacking midfielder. I am talking about coming into the team. You would expect Liverpool to have money to spend and that would be exciting.”
A new striker would raise questions about Nunez’s long-term future at the club, as would an upgrade at left-back lead to uncertainty over what role Andy Robertson would play next season. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer, although reports of new additions up front have been thin on the ground.
