Sport

Starting with the Community Shield, this season could be Liverpool’s to dominate

Arne Slot’s first season as Liverpool manager could hardly have gone any better. While many expected a drop-off following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, the Reds instead made a big step forward, winning the Premier League title at a canter and there’s strong reason to believe the champions will be even stronger this season.

It’s been a blockbuster summer at Anfield. Liverpool broke the Premier League transfer record to land Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and could break it again to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. On top of this, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have been added to Slot’s squad.

Liverpool boast the most accomplished collection of players in the Premier League. What’s more, many of their rivals at the top of English football are in a state of transition – see Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal and Chelsea might also still be too early in their development to win a Premier League title.

Slot’s side can pick up their first trophy of the season this weekend with Liverpool facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. While Palace will pose a threat, they might not have the talent to impose their own game on the Premier League champions and so Liverpool might have too much attacking firepower for Oliver Glasner’s outfit.

There are questions over the framework of Slot’s attack. Liverpool have added Ekitike and Wirtz to their team over the summer and it’s not yet clear how they will fit into the attacking lineup. Wirtz is one of the best number 10s anywhere in the game right now, but Slot’s system will surely have to change to make room for the German.

Ekitike thrived for Eintracht Frankfurt as a centre forward, playing the first half of last season as one half of a front two alongside Omar Marmoush. When Marmoush left the Bundesliga to join Manchester United in the January transfer window, Ekitike led the line for Frankfurt effectively and continued to find the back of the net.

If Liverpool’s plan is to capture Isak before the end of the summer transfer window, what is their vision for Ekitike? After the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, could the French attacker be used on the left wing? Would that allow Slot to squeeze Ekitike and Isak into the same forward line with Wirtz as a number 10 in behind?

“We have brought in a few very talented players, but the core of the group has stayed the same,” said Slot when asked about the level of activity at Anfield over the summer transfer window so far which has included the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. “These players have to make a step up again as well because our competition are not standing still.”

Liverpool’s lack of activity in previous windows has facilitated their spending splurge this summer. The expansion of Anfield has also helped, as has a new bumper kit deal with Adidas which came into effect at the start of this month. On top of this, Liverpool have raised around £125m through player sales and could raise even more before the window closes.

It will take an almighty effort from one of Liverpool’s rivals to match them this season. The Premier League title race was enough of a stroll for the Reds last term and that was before they had a summer transfer window which saw them strengthen in a number of key areas across the pitch. This could be the start of an era of dominance for the Anfield outfit.