Let’s start by admitting one thing: there was a component of tension round Arne Slot‘s introduction to life as Liverpool boss. Getting into Jurgen Klopp‘s footwear was all the time going to be a frightening process and historical past means that some would battle to construct upon the robust foundations.
However Slot is not any head coach and was picked by FSG‘s Michael Edwards to succeed the legendary German given the ticked packing containers round his tactical nous and interpersonal expertise, two sides which have been salient throughout the opening three months of his Liverpool reign.
Liverpool are discernibly extra composed on the ball, extra wanting to retain possession, sapping opponents’ vitality and confidence by purposeful passing play and suffocating transitions.
The September worldwide break trundles on however Reds supporters can be itching to see their high-flying workforce again in motion, having received all three of their opening Premier League matches, but to concede a objective and most not too long ago placing Manchester United to the sword at Outdated Trafford.
All this with out actually making any important strikes within the switch market. Slot’s first-team squad is brimming with expertise, and the first goal is to tie three key figures all the way down to new offers.
Why Liverpool must preserve maintain of Virgil van Dijk
As you’ve got most likely heard, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah are all out of contract on the finish of the season, with their unresolved contractual conditions placing greater than a measure of trepidation into the hearts of supporters.
Liverpool won’t have welcomed hordes of world-renowned superstars to the squad however lots has gone on at Anfield. A number of squad gamers have been offered or loaned out to unclutter and streamline a proficient workforce eyeing silverware, and now Edwards and Richard Hughes are going to work on the aforementioned points.
Salah seems to be the most probably to pen new phrases at this stage, with negotiations forthcoming and the Reds reportedly doing every little thing inside their energy to increase the Egyptian’s £350k-per-week contract.
All is quiet on the Van Dijk entrance. The Netherlands and Liverpool captain has been some of the influential gamers in Europe since signing for Liverpool from Southampton in a £75m transfer in January 2018, and although he is now 33, continues to be acting at an obscene degree.
His aerial dominance, ball-playing expertise and management high quality are parts recognized by all, however the truth that the Dutchman nonetheless ranks among the many high 7% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for carries (57.79) per 90, as per FBref, means that his athleticism and robustness stay at a powerful commonplace.
Van Dijk has conquered all of Europe in Liverpool purple, however is he going to cease? It is an anxious wait however the hope is that he extends and continues so as to add safety and authority from the again, stretching his affect throughout each space of the park.
Tying him all the way down to a contract extension, alongside Alexander-Arnold and Salah, is crucial, and followers will hope to see some positivity on that entrance after a low-key summer season.
That stated, Liverpool did signal Federico Chiesa, and which may transform a masterful addition.
Why Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa
Earlier than the summer season market opened for enterprise, most of a Liverpool persuasion would have anticipated to see the backline strengthened with a brand new centre-back and, maybe, FSG implement the signing of an improve on Wataru Endo, who was signed as a stopgap from Stuttgart final summer season for £16m.
Touchdown Chiesa, an out-of-favour and injury-prone winger from Juventus, was most likely not envisaged, however let’s steer away from surface-level stuff and have a look at why the Reds opted to make this transfer.
Chiesa, accidents apart, is one among Europe’s most proficient extensive forwards, with technical sharpness, multi-angled creativity and positional flexibility that led journalist Zach Lowy to hail him as “completely world-class” after his performances at Euro 2020 with Italy, essential in his nation’s golden triumph.
However he is suffered ACL blows which have knocked his development since. Regardless of this, the 26-year-old loved one thing of a resurgence with Juventus final season, beginning 26 Serie A matches and scoring 9 objectives.
Furthermore, he ranks among the many high 1% of positional friends throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for shot-creating actions and the highest 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, underscoring the sort of shuttling playmaker Liverpool have gotten their mitts on.
Did we point out the switch payment? My, my, if Chiesa can preserve the chatter round his identify fastened to on-pitch stuff, there is no query that Edwards has completed it once more and that Liverpool may simply have hit the jackpot.
Liverpool have already hit the jackpot on Federico Chiesa
On August 29, 2024, Liverpool introduced the signing of Chiesa from Italian giants Juventus. The determine was reported to face at simply £10m, stretching to £12.5m upon the assembly of possible clauses.
That is fairly a shrewd sum, even when the Italy worldwide had stepped into the ultimate yr of his contract in Turin. Incomes £150k per week, he is among the many higher-paid earners on the Merseyside outfit, however that is warranted, for he may show to be a useful presence in Slot’s squad if he (you guessed it) retains the prolonged layoffs away.
And anyway, as per Transfermarkt, Chiesa is already thought-about to be price £30m, over half of what Liverpool paid. Furthermore, the location data that he was price £59m in December 2021, earlier than a ruinous interval on the sidelines – maybe he may resurrect one thing alongside these traces at Liverpool.
Market Movers
Soccer FanCast’s Market Movers collection explores the worldwide astronomical rises and falls of participant switch values.
£30m, for instance, means that he’s already price greater than Van Dijk (recorded to have a market worth of £26m), who is perhaps approaching the tip of his deal at Liverpool however continues to be the most effective gamers on this planet – ought to a brand new deal fail to materialise, there can be no scarcity of high-profile suitors in line.
Followers have little extra time to attend till Chiesa gracing the Anfield pitch, in line to make his debut within the Premier League in opposition to Nottingham Forest this coming weekend, and if he hits the bottom working and sustains a powerful purple patch, he may simply restore his erstwhile place amongst Europe’s Most worthy forwards.
