The Reds have made a strong start to life under their new boss, but expiring contracts and competition for places are going to complicate things
It was all going so well for Arne Slot, even better than expected, in fact. Mohamed Salah had just put Liverpool 2-0 up against Brentford on Sunday, thus sealing a second consecutive Premier League victory for the Reds under their new Dutch coach.
Consequently, Slot decided to give some game time to three very deserving players. Darwin Nunez took over up top from Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo replaced Luis Diaz on the left wing, while Conor Bradley came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
Both Jota and Diaz, who had combined for the game's opening goal, accepted their substitutions with good grace. Alexander-Arnold, though, was visibly frustrated by his early exit, and Slot even sat down beside the disgruntled right-back as he attempted to explain the thinking behind the decision.
However, Alexander-Arnold, who was also taken off towards the end of the opening-weekend win at Ipswich, still looked miffed when he made his way back onto the pitch at Anfield after the full-time whistle had blown, despite Jota's very obvious attempts to lift his spirits.
It was the one blemish on an otherwise flawless afternoon for Liverpool, who have kicked off their 2024-25 campaign by scoring four unanswered goals. However, the Brentford win, coupled with Alexander-Arnold's obvious irritation, perfectly illustrated that while the Reds are enjoying a smooth transition under Slot from a tactical perspective, keeping every member of the squad happy is going to be immensely difficult for Jurgen Klopp's successor – particularly when it comes to the homegrown hero with the expiring contract.
Getty Images Sport'We need Trent for the whole season'
The petulance we saw from Alexander-Arnold on Sunday is hardly a rare event in football. Players always want to play every minute of every game, and some managers state – at least publicly – that they actually like it when their charges express dissatisfaction at being benched or taken off, as it's interpreted as evidence of the hunger and desire required to thrive at the highest level.
There was certainly nothing to suggest that Slot was put out by Alexander-Arnold's reaction (he was in fine form in his post-match interview with , even getting an amusing dig in at pundit Jamie Carragher) – or that back-to-back substitutions were any kind of negative reflection on the defender's displays at either Portman Road or Anfield.
"Trent had a few weeks off, came back and it is only his third game and we have to take care of him," Slot told reporters. "We need him for the whole season and not only for the first two games.
"The good thing for me is that I have a very good back-up as well with Conor, so that means we are taking care of Trent. But he played a good game."
AdvertisementGetty Images'Freedom to go anywhere'
Alexander-Arnold has certainly not shown any ill-effects of being cruelly scapegoated during England's Euro 2024 campaign, with the 25-year-old making a hugely impressive start to the season that has seen him create seven chances in two games – no other Liverpool player has managed more.
It's already abundantly clear that he will be just as integral to Slot's Liverpool as he was to Klopp's. The only difference is we're likely to see a little less of him in the middle of the park, particularly as Slot favours a double pivot in front of the back four, which means less space in the engine room for Alexander-Arnold but more opportunities for him to get forward because of the extra cover provided by the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
"Trent has many qualities, and one of them is the crosses from the side," Slot told on Sunday. "If we only play him in the midfield, he can only pass the ball, which he can of course do quite well. But I also want him in dangerous crossing positions. So, he has the freedom to go anywhere, [which is why] Trent is a difficult one to play against."
However, he could also prove a little difficult to manage the longer his contract saga drags on.
GettyWill he stay or will he go?
There can be no questioning of Alexander-Arnold's love of Liverpool, but he might well be a little frustrated with the club right now. He made light of the media's desperation to speak with him after last week's win at Ipswich but, as feared, the speculation around his future is only intensifying, and will continue to do so until the Real Madrid target signs a renewal.
Sunday showed precisely why. Under normal circumstances, Alexander-Arnold's sulking would have been quickly forgotten, but this is an extraordinary situation: the season is now well under way, the transfer window closes in less than 72 hours, and yet Liverpool's vice-captain is no closer to extending a contract that expires next summer.
As a result, every comment and gesture is being analysed in great detail, with journalists and fans desperately trying to detect whether Alexander-Arnold is more likely to stay or go. This kind of incessant scrutiny and speculation is no good for anyone, particularly Slot, who is also having to bat away questions about Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who, as it stands, will also be free agents next summer.
Getty Images SportPotentially damaging distraction
Both Van Dijk and Salah seem utterly unperturbed by the fact that they've yet to agree new contracts with the club – at least on the field – and Alexander-Arnold's performance level hasn't dropped either. Furthermore, the latter's poor reaction to being subbed is only really a story because his future remains in doubt – but that doesn't diminish the risk of the constant questions about Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah becoming an annoying and potentially damaging distraction for Slot, who really could have done without this level of uncertainty surrounding three of Liverpool's leading lights in his first few months at the club.
Encouragingly, the squad appears to have fully bought into his more measured footballing philosophy, but he obviously doesn't have as much credit in the bank with the players as his predecessor. It would be only natural if some don't feel as favoured by Slot as they did by Klopp.
After all, it already appears as if the new boss has a preferred starting line-up – the only change made on Sunday to the side that won at Ipswich was Ibrahima Konate replacing Jarell Quansah alongside Van Dijk – and although Slot has been at pains to point out that the season is long, meaning every squad member will have a role to play, it will not be long before certain big names come knocking on his door if they're restricted to the role of impact sub.
