5 top Arne Slot summer priorities as new Liverpool head coach

On 1 June, Arne Slot began his new role as the head coach of Liverpool. He faces the difficult task of replacing Jurgen Klopp and if the Dutchman is to get off to a good start, then he will need to succeed in five tasks this summer.

Despite going under the radar in Europe, Slot has had a moderately succesful start to his managerial career. He left Feyenoord with a win percentage of 65.54% and his record of 346 goals scored in 148 games across competitions would suggest his expansive style of play might suit Liverpool. Additionally, winning the Eredivise in 2022-23 and the KNVB Cup further boost his credentials to be the man in charge of Liverpool.

However, there is no underestimating the scale of the task he faces when he attempts to Jurgen Klopp. If he is to succeed at Anfield, these are the first five priorities he must get right.

#1 Select the coaching staff

Departures- Many of Jurgen Klopp's backroom staff joined the German in leaving Liverpool.

Slot’s first priority will also likely be his first job. Following Jurgen Klopp’s shock exit announcement, various members of his valued coaching team have confirmed their exits. In total nine staff members confirmed they would be joining Klopp in departing Liverpool this summer, leaving the club and Slot with gaping holes to fill in both the coaching staff and other behind the scenes roles.

Arne Slot confirmed the arrival of three new staff members during his first official interview as per the BBC. His assistant at Feyenoord will be joining him at Anfield and Ruben Peeters will also follow him to Liverpool as the lead physical performance coach. Meanwhile a new working relationship will be established with the appointment of Fabien Otte as the goalkeeper coach.

Despite these appointments there are still some roles to be filled and Arne Slot would ideally like to have those completed before the first day of pre-season. The selection process of the new members of coaching staff has offered an insight into the cooperative approach Liverpool will take going forward with Arne Slot actively working with Sporting Director Richard Hughes.

#2 Settle the Trent Alexander-Arnold debate

Trent Alexander-Arnold has caused a media stir with his role for England

The Trent Alexander-Arnold debate has been raging on for years and Arne Slot may be the man who settles it. Is he a right-back or a midfielder?

England manager Gareth Southgate has not helped matters when it comes to this question. Firstly he refused to play him at full back, whilst Alexander-Arnold was experiencing form that set him out as one of the best right back's in the world and then he later confessed that he only views him as a midfielder. Whilst England are still in the European Championships it is likely to continue being a topic of conversation.

Jurgen Klopp was always keen to downplay the debate saying (via GOAL):

"Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder?"

In even simpler terms, the best teams have their best players in their correct position. But the debate always comes back to the question, what is Alexander-Arnold's best position?

There is no denying that Alexander-Arnold has generational qualities, particularly ones that have the potential to be beneficial in midfield. His ability to dictate games and play killer game-breaking passes sets him apart as one of the best creators in Europe. A career total of 58 assists is unheard of for a full back so young.

However, the development of the modern game might mean that a position has already been created for Alexander-Arnold that doesn't require him to be deployed directly as a midfielder. The inverted wing-back role has been developing across Europe in the last few seasons, as coaches aim to create an overload in the centre of the park in the bid for ultimate control of possession.

Liverpool have heavily benefited from this and Trent Alexander-Arnold is arguably the best player in the world for this position. Most crucially, whilst at Feyenoord Arne Slot has been using his full backs in the same manner.

Arne Slot may surprise people and change his approach when he comes to Anfield in order to accommodate Alexander-Arnold in midifield. However, it is more likely that he will adopt a similar approach and use Alexander-Arnold in the inverted wing back role, allowing him the freedom to move about the pitch and dictate games.

At 25 years old, Alexander-Arnold is coming into his prime and should have the team built around him, so deciding which position he is going to take up in Slot’s system will be his second priority as Liverpool head coach.

#3 Unlock Darwin Nūnez or give up on him?

When Liverpool forked out £80million for their no. 9, Darwin Nunez, some thought they'd found their next raw gem. Meanwhile others were bemused by such a heavy outlay on an unproven talent. Two seasons into his Liverpool career and opinion is still divided, but the reality is that nobody in world footbal frustrates like Darwin Nunez.

His eccentricity, raw pace and ability to consistently be in the right place is all made redundant by the number of chances he squanders. As per the Premier League's official website, only Erling Haaland (34) missed more big chances than Darwin Nūnez (27) in England's top flight last season.

Those who still have faith in the Uruguayan cling to the idea that the volume of chances he gets means he is likely to explode eventually. However, the doubters would argue that a strikers job is to score goals and his return of 33 goals in 96 games across competitions is simply not good enough for a £80m striker.

There were flash moments last season were it appeared Nūnez had turned a corner. During the Africa Cup of Nations, the absence of Mohammed Salah led to Nūnez being the focal point of the Liverpool attack.

But this form faded away upon the return of Salah, and Nūnez finished the season similarly to his first season - struggling to get into the team. It could be that in order to maximise his true potential he might have to be the main man, rather than a supporting act. Or it might just be easier to give up on the number nine.

This has the potential to be one of Arne Slot's most difficult challenges and if he gets it right it might even guarantee immediate success. But such is the unpredictable nature of Darwin Nunez it is impossible to suggest what the right call is. Stick or twist?

#4 Keep or sell Mohammed Salah?

Only a few summers ago, pressure was building on the Liverpool hierarchy as the Mohammed Salah contract saga rumbled on. After months of tense negotiations and teasing from his agent, Mohammed Salah signed a record-breaking contract extension, making him the highest earning player in Liverpool's history.

According to the eye test and social media, Salah has struggled to put consistent performances togerher since signing the bumper contract extension. However, the statistics suggest a different story and also highlight a development in his game as he has become more creative.

During the closing stages of the season Salah was receiving heavy criticism from all angles, with some even suggesting that his time at the top might be up. His statistics since returning from injury appear to support that theory as seen below:

But he should be given the benefit of the doubt because this was Salah's longest ever spell on the sidelines and it clearly took much longer for him to get back to his best than was expected. His previously impeccable fitness record and impressive physique would suggest that a return to top form at the start of next season is not unrealistic. Despite all the criticism and the doubts Salah still had the fifth best individual season in Liverpool's history.

However, Liverpool find themselves in an awkward position on deciding whether to renew his contract in order to protect his value or risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. His decline of pace could be a hindrance on Arne Slot's style of play as he typically favours wingers who are direct and attempt to take on defenders.

A part of Salah's game which has declined significantly in the last few years - completing just 20 dribbles last season, compared to a career high of 77 in his debut season at Anfield, as per Statmuse.

This conundrum leaves Slot in a difficult position as instead of replacing one legend in Jurgen Klopp he would also have to replace another. Stability may be wiser than a complete shake up.

#5 Stop conceding first; fix Liverpool's defense

Arne Slot's fifth and final priority as Liverpool head coach this summer, is to sort and issue that has plagued the Reds for the last three seasons - conceding first.

Last season the Reds conceded first in 16 of their 38 Premier League games, as per SoccerSTATS. For long periods of the season Liverpool were praised for their strong character and comeback ability as they continually turned one goal deficits into victories.

However, this was not sustainable and they eventually ran out of energy and couldn't quite keep doing it towards the end of the season.

More recently, the defensive fratilities have been further exposed by the number of goals being shipped and the shocking end of the season is summarised by the statistic that they only kept two clean sheets in their last 16 games in all competitions. For a team with one of the best goal keepers in the world and a world class quality defence, these numbers simply aren't good enough.

It would seem that the downfall of the defense has been largest structural and tactical. The woeful statistic of Alexis Mac Allister being dribbled past 64 times this season (the most for a Premier League player), highlights some issues with the set up of this Liverpool side.

Despite the praise the new midfield has received for its revived energy and creativity, the rigity of the previous midfield has been sacrificed. The task for Slot is to try and find the right balance between an expansive midfield and a controlled one.

A common phrase used by pundits is that all good teams are built on a good defense and Premier League history usually favours the team with the best defensive record. The success of Arsenal last season was largely built upon their stability at the back. If Slot is to improve Liverpool from last season, than the defensive record is likely to be the easiest place to start and may well be the cornerstone of any futher success.