After a tough weekend loss to Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have swiftly restored the positive mood with a crucial 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League.
The shock defeat to Forest marked the first stumble under Arne Slot’s new regime at Anfield, but the win in Milan has brought confidence back into the camp.
Slot’s team will now look to build on that momentum when they host Bournemouth on Saturday, hoping to put things right in the Premier League.
Despite the disappointment of the Forest result, Liverpool fans can take solace in how Slot’s side responded on Tuesday night. While losses like the one against Forest are never easy to accept, they may occasionally happen as the club continues to transition under a new manager.
Fortunately, Slot’s approach and demeanour have quickly earned trust, suggesting these setbacks will be rare.
David James praises Arne Slot’s patience with contract decisions
As Arne Slot prepares for another crucial match this weekend, former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has offered praise for one of the head coach’s key decisions since taking over at the club.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot. Credit: Imago Images
Reflecting on the current situation with three of Liverpool’s star players—Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah—all entering the final year of their contracts, James applauded Slot for how he has handled the situation.
Speaking to the Daily Star, James remarked that Slot had exercised patience by not rushing to offer new deals to the trio immediately upon his arrival.
“It would have been easy for Slot to go in and offer these guys new deals right away,” James said.
“But he’s waited, which I think is the right thing to do for a new manager. For the players, they’ve seen what Slot is bringing on the pitch and off it, and they will be thinking that they want to be part of it.”
Uncertainty over new contracts for key players
While James’s praise for Slot’s patience is understandable, the reality may be more complicated. It’s unclear how much influence the Dutch manager has over contract negotiations for star players like van Dijk, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold.
Arne Slot. Credit: Imago Images
Realistically, any manager would want to keep these world-class talents at the club for as long as possible, and all three have been pivotal in Slot’s first five games in charge.
With no concrete movement yet regarding their contracts, fans may be growing concerned about their futures at Anfield.
Slot will be focused on ensuring Liverpool pick up another three points against Bournemouth this weekend.
As the team looks to continue their strong start to the season, more praise is sure to come Slot’s way if Liverpool can maintain their momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
