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Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has warned Reds head coach Arne Slot that next season will prove "tougher" in the Premier League - as the Anfield boss closes in on a historic title triumph.

The Merseysiders currently sit 12 points clear at the summit, with nine games left of the campaign in the Dutchman's first term in the hotseat.

Moreover, Lawrenson - who won five championships at Anfield - has asserted that the Reds will become the team to beat next year if they do lift the title this campaign.

He exclusively told Liverpool.com: "It's tougher, the next year's tougher because team's want to beat you straight away.

They get better players and it's more difficult for the teams at the top to roll them over.

"But if you win it once, and we've not won it by default, we've won it because we've got the best team, it all depends on what team we have next season.

Ex-Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has given his verdict on the current situation facing Arne Slot.

Everyone uses the phrase 'we've got to go again' in terms of the players but the whole club has got to go again."

Regardless of the situation regarding whether Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold will be at Anfield in August, Lawrenson also contends that the Reds will require fresh reinforcements in the summer

Are we strong enough at the back?' All of those things."

The pundit added: "So it's gone from it looking like a fantastic job to have for Arne Slot to 'show us what you're made of this summer'