Liverpool raised the bar last season, but current evidence from the Premier League table suggests those standards may have slipped. This is further highlighted by the total of 18 defeats across all competitions. Nonetheless, focus has shifted towards the team’s off-field standards. Mohamed Salah has expressed his worries about the changing dynamics in the dressing room, emphasizing the need for players to adopt a stronger work ethic, such as arriving early for gym sessions to motivate others.
For Arne Slot, the team’s culture isn’t a concern, even with anticipated departures of key players like Andy Robertson and Salah, who have been central to Jurgen Klopp’s successful squad. Slot believes the existing players are capable of maintaining the team’s cultural standards even after losing influential figures.
“What Mo is saying underscores the importance of standards at a football club,” said Slot. “I completely agree with him. I have not heard him claim that our current standards are lacking. I’m confident that next season’s standards will match or even exceed those of previous seasons.”
While referencing those previous campaigns might seem coincidental, the discussion around too many days off last year is noteworthy. Liverpool has had fewer rest days this season compared to their title-winning campaign under Slot or Klopp’s final year. One analysis of their decline this season is that the culture established by Klopp and his senior players is slowly fading. Slot, however, disagrees with this notion.
“I believe the standards are currently in a good position,” he stated. “It’s natural for younger players, whether they are new signings or academy graduates, to look up to experienced players like Mo for guidance on maintaining high performance standards, especially in demanding schedules. I see significant progress in our young players, and I’m confident we have enough to uphold our standards next season, combined with new signings.”
This pertains to Salah’s own diminished performance, dropping from 29 league goals last season to just seven this year—a factor in Liverpool’s downturn. Some players are facing age-related decline, while others have been sidelined by injury. Despite these challenges, Slot believes he has the right mix of character in his squad.
Last week, Salah reflected fondly on his early days at the club, when the atmosphere was shaped by figures like Jordan Henderson and James Milner. During that time, the team not only excelled but also enjoyed a vibrant dressing room culture. Now, with the potential departure of three senior players, Slot indicates that while Virgil van Dijk will remain, the status of Alisson remains uncertain.
Questions loom over the future of Joe Gomez, the longest-serving player, and Curtis Jones, a local presence within the team.
This situation may prompt Dominik Szoboszlai to step up and fulfill a leadership role as vice-captain. Others will need to rise to the occasion as well. Slot believes he does not need to seek out new players to establish a high standard this summer, as the likely replacement for Robertson is Kostas Tsimikas, who is returning from loan at Roma.
Dominik Szoboszlai has insisted he is ready to be a leader for Liverpool when Salah and Robertson leave the club (Reuters)
Furthermore, Slot does not feel compelled to acquire senior players for leadership roles, believing that his current squad already possesses cultural leaders. “It’s not about needing to sign more leaders,” he stated. “We have them here. Leadership isn’t limited to senior players. Looking at teams like Paris Saint-Germain, for instance, younger players like Desire Doue are already influences. It’s a misconception that leadership and high standards are exclusively the domain of older players.”
“Younger players also gain valuable experiences that are essential for succeeding at this level. We shouldn’t underestimate their capacity to lead,” Slot emphasized. “Standards aren’t solely set by the oldest players; someone like Doue or Salah—who played at a high level in their mid-20s—can set just as high standards as anyone.”
Part of it has to come from Slot, too, and he recognizes this responsibility. “While players play a role, the manager must also establish standards,” he noted. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that Liverpool’s culture will remain intact.