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

Cameron Smith

20 May 2024 17:07 BST
4 min read

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

Arne Slot has officially been announced as Jurgen Klopp replacement at Liverpool.

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The Dutchman will formerly take over at Anfield on 1 June, leaving Feyenoord after a successful stint with the Eredivisie giants.

With Klopp leaving, Liverpool will embark on a new era and keeping hold of their existing stars will be crucial this summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have all been linked with departures in recent months, although the latter is now set to stay at Liverpool.

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.

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.

However, with Slot taking over at Liverpool, how will he line up his side?

Liverpool starting XI under Arne Slot

Slot 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 certainly suits the profile of a Liverpool manager.

Alisson will remain in between the sticks next season, 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.