Arne Slot can find his best Liverpool XI with one tweak to the team which thrashed Galatasaray - opinion
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Liverpool supporters finally got a glimpse of what they’ve been waiting since August to see as their team turned on the style against Galatasaray.For all sorts of reasons, the Reds have not been themselves this season, with Arne Slot failing to get a coherent tune out of his squad.Part of the problem has been that Slot has not seemed to know his best Liverpool XI, chopping and changing due to injuries, form and workload. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine Only Alexander Isak to add to Liverpool’s best XIFor one reason or another, Wednesday was the first time Slot had fielded the XI players who started Wednesday’s crunch match in the Champions League.Conor Bradley might have something to say about it, but when the dust settled on last summer’s transfer window, Liverpool’s decision makers surely had this team in mind to play more often than not.The one glaring omission to that is Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s record signing and desperately unlucky No.
9.Isak has to be in the Reds’ starting XI, so some may query how on earth Wednesday’s team could be anything close to Slot’s vision moving forward.Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings from Anfield as Reds turn it on to demolish GalatasarayThe answer to that is that Mohamed Salah started much closer to Hugo Ekitike. 11 against Gala, handing Slot his perfect Liverpool XI.Two areas to improve ahead of next seasonWith Salah likely to leave Liverpool this summer, Slot will not have to think about how best to use the veteran next term.
Who was your Man of the Match in Liverpool’s rout of Galatasaray? 💪 Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images Instead, we’d like to see Liverpool prioritise a new midfield signing, someone who can perhaps push Alexis Mac Allister or even start ahead of him.Elsewhere, right-back is still a slight worry, with neither Jeremie Frimpong nor Bradley looking completely convincing as a long-term option. If there is an upgrade to be had, that is the most glaring position.A different centre-back may also come in for Ibrahima Konate, but ideally the Frenchman signs on and can continue to add steel to what looks like a very well balanced team.Isak is hopeful of returning ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals, meaning Slot could have finally found the formula to playing the fast, attacking, intense football Liverpool fans have been so desperate to see.