New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said it plenty of times during the summer and the early evidence would suggest that he was right: the roster of players that he inherited was strong .
Jurgen Klopp left behind the rarest of things: a team that was still on the up. Normally when a manager leaves, it is because they are struggling, but Slot arrived with almost every player still with more to unlock. Liverpool was in a title charge until April last year and the feeling was always that it could kick on again.
That was something that Paul Scholes hinted at during the coverage of Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool at the weekend. As well as Slot's first XI being stronger than Erik ten Hag's, the difference in reserves was a complete contrast too.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer 'target' responds to Arne Slot 'interest' as future move far from ruled out
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah told off by Liverpool staff member after Sky Sports interview
Liverpool brought on Cody Gakpo , Darwin Nunez , Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas while Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah were unused substitutes. Curtis Jones wasn't involved at all because of a minor injury.
"When you see the squad, the first XI was brilliant, and that’s probably their easiest game out of the three they have had," Scholes said live on the official Premier League channel's coverage. "Then we saw the subs warm up and go past us, I thought ‘Wow, this is a proper squad of players’.
"I think he (Slot) has been quite fortunate to walk into that. Of course, he has to put his own stamp on it and I am sure he will do as we have seen in the first three games. They look defensively better, although, they did concede a couple of chances — we talk about the six forwards they have got.
"They also have five brilliant midfield players. You think of Jones, who isn’t here today. Elliott, who can come into that. I think he really likes them three ( Ryan Gravenberch , Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai ).
"He didn’t change them three. It was all the forwards. The right-back or the left-back. There is a real dominance about that Liverpool squad. They could really challenge for that title this year."
Liverpool.com says: The depth available in the Liverpool squad could be even better and there are a couple of clear gaps (at the base of the midfield, for instance). The reality is, though, that Slot's team is stronger than almost every other in the division.
The Reds should comfortably finish inside the top four places but there is a question about whether or not they have done enough to overhaul Arsenal and Manchester City. A couple of injuries could quickly change the outlook.
Scholes' verdict says plenty, however, about why Liverpool didn't do loads in the summer transfer market. Improving on what he already has would have been tricky. Having the likes of Jones, Elliott and Gakpo in reserve is a huge advantage.
Local News
Comments / 0