Liverpool’s 2025-26 season hit a new low with a 1-1 draw against the worst team in the Premier League, based on form, Tottenham at Anfield. The Champions need another huge reset this summer, starting with the manager.
Arne Slot had plenty of credit in the bank heading into this season after steamrolling the league after replacing Jurgen Klopp. However, the title defence ended as early as October and slow, sloppy displays have persisted.
The Dutchman appears to be struggling to turn the tide, and that could prove extremely costly for Liverpool, who spent over £400 million in the summer. Champions League qualification is far from a certainty next season, and the club have to take action. And Slot’s not the only one in big trouble.
Arne Slot’s Time at Liverpool is Up
The 47-year-old kept things very similar to Klopp’s brand of ‘heavy metal’ football during his debut term in England, with the hard-working and exciting Reds storming to a second-ever Premier League title. Slot should always be credited with that season and what he accomplished.
But after such a big spend and huge expectations going into this campaign, he has failed to live up to the standards he had already set for himself. His players aren’t helping with plenty of individual errors and lapses in judgement, but the buck stops with the manager.
The 20 managers at every Premier League club by how likely they are to be sacked next.
His football has gone from high-tempo to slow and tepid. The Anfield crowd are now almost silent throughout matches, with a nervous energy in the air before Spurs’ equaliser, as if it felt inevitable.
Slot isn’t the only man responsible for the downfall of the English champions, but he looks to be out of his depth at the moment. This result may not turn out to be the final nail in the coffin for the Dutchman, but he’s now under severe pressure to advance in the Champions League.
Slot’s Faltering Stars Need Axed After Spurs Stutter
Mohamed Salah’s future at the club already looks uncertain after his poor season and fallout with the manager in December. This summer could well be the last chance for the English giants to receive a substantial transfer fee for the ‘Egyptian King’, whose powers are waning before our eyes.
One of the greatest Liverpool players of all-time, Salah’s exclusion from the starting XI didn’t shock anyone in the way it previously would, and his three wayward shots proved he’s not the same goalscoring force he once was.
Following him out the door in the summer should be long-term teammate Andy Robertson. Despite his invaluable experience and positive attitude, the Scot isn’t the same high-energy full-back he once was. His poor display vs Spurs proved his contract shouldn’t be extended beyond this term.
The Premier League table could look very different in some key areas by the time May rolls around.
Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa continue to disappoint in attack, with the latter not appearing to have any trust from his manager. The Italian was thrown on as a last-gasp attempt to find a winning goal, but appears to have even fallen behind 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Gakpo’s impressive performances off the bench last season haven’t translated into being an effective first-team regular. His end product isn’t making up for his limited ability with the ball anymore, and he’s running out of chances to get the fan base back onside.
Alexis Mac Allister, as pointed out by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’ commentary, has lost a yard of pace and doesn’t look like the same controlling player he has been in previous years. Perhaps after too many minutes, the Argentine looks extremely ordinary in the engine room.
The last man who looks like he needs a move away is Joe Gomez. The Englishman is the longest-serving player at Anfield currently, but his slow and laboured performance against Tottenham proved he’s not capable of being an elite centre-back anymore, perhaps due to the many injuries he has suffered in his career.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of SofaScore. Correct as of 15-03-26.
Liverpool have added Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh to their transfer shortlist as a back-up option if they are unable to agree a deal for top winger target Yan Diomande, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
The Reds have beaten Premier League rivals Newcastle United to the signature of the Spain international, who is currently representing his country at the 2026 World Cup and has already completed a medical in America.
The Merseyside outfit have identified the wide positions as a key area they need to strengthen in this summer transfer window, with two new players expected to arrive.
The transfer plan is of little surprise given the Reds are losing Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a serious long-term injury.
The left-sided Munoz is set to be the first through the door at Anfield, but now club chiefs want to sign Salah’s long-term successor too.
Jacobs: Liverpool Add Minteh to Transfer Shortlist
via Reuters
Liverpool are working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, who they have identified as the top target to replace Salah.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign for the Bundesliga club, and he has carried his club form into the World Cup by winning the man of the match award in his first-ever appearance at the tournament as the Ivory Coast beat Ecuador.
While Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are near the top of the club’s wishlist, there are other names on there too, as revealed by Jacobs on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.
He said: “Diomande is the preference. Diomande is the one that Liverpool are working on, and it could develop as a consequence, but if it isn’t to be Diomande, I can give you some other targets.
“One, as we’ve known for quite some time, is Bradley Barcola and PSG, if they win the race for Yan Diomande, may suddenly become open to selling Barcola, even though, as of now, their stance is basically not for sale. But it’s not impossible if another player comes in that PSG’s perspective changes.
“Then there are some new names I can give you on the Liverpool shortlist as well. Said El Mala is one at Koln, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh is another, and Lillle’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a third name. All three of those players are also on Liverpool’s radar and have been discussed and presented to new manager Andoni Iraola.”
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Pace is Key for Liverpool and Iraola
via Reuters
There is one thing that all of these key targets have in common, and it is their explosive pace.
Minteh has been recorded as one of the top 10 fastest players in the Premier League previously, and Dutch football writer Lentin Goodijk has described him as being ‘lightning quick’.
While Liverpool and Iraola have some good technical forwards to pick from right now, the Spaniard obviously feels that he wants to add some real speed to his attacking options as they look to significantly improve on their performances this season.
Whether it be Diomande, Minteh or any of the other names on the shortlist, Liverpool’s plan is clear.
Tottenham are bracing themselves for their transfer move to sign Sandro Tonali this summer to be hijacked by Manchester City.
Spurs have been one of the busier clubs already this summer, bringing in two new players on free transfers, as well as agreeing a deal for another.
Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson will link up with the Lilywhites from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively after their World Cup adventures with Argentina and Scotland are over, while Jan Paul van Hecke looks set to arrive in a £52million deal from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Lewis Family vowed to invest in the Tottenham squad
Vivienne Lewis of the Lewis Family who are in charge of Tottenham Hotspur
Roberto De Zerbi and Spurs already mean business in the summer transfer window, with the Lewis Family vowing to back the Italian with investment into the squad.
GIVEMESPORT understands that the Spurs owners want to make a statement signing this summer and there are talks ongoing over a deal to bring Savinho to the club from Manchester City.
But any move for the forward would be surpassed by a transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Spurs burst to the front of the queue to sign the 26-year-old earlier this week when news emerged of a planned £80million to £85million move for the Italian.
Newcastle want in the region of £100million to sell the midfielder and there is a feeling around St James’ Park that he will depart the club this summer.
Tottenham are keen to get a deal over the line for Tonali to strengthen the middle of the park, with reports surfacing that the player is keen on the move to north London too.
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But Spurs are not the only club interested in signing him this summer. Manchester United have been linked with a move, given their plan to sign two central midfielders this summer. Arsenal were linked in January, although a move never came to fruition and the Gunners could make another move this time around.
And then there’s Manchester City, who lost Bernardo Silva this week and could well say goodbye to Rodri too, with question marks over his future at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City aiming to bring in two midfielders this summer
Elliot Anderson waves to the Nottingham Forest fans
City’s attention for now, is on signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with two bids of more than £100million already rejected by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Any suggestion that City are only planning for one midfield arrival appear to be wide of the mark, however. GMS understands that City, like Spurs, are in talks to sign Tonali and Teamtalk reporter Graeme Bailey has gone even further in saying: “I am told City made it clear during the process that they don’t see Tonali as some sort of alternative to Elliot Anderson – ideally they want both.”
Tottenham may have thought they would have it all their own way in the race to sign Tonali with United put off by the price, City going all out for Anderson and Arsenal appearing to move for Manu Kone, but they may face a battle to complete the £100million deal after all.
Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali’s transfer race, England’s World Cup win and Brazil’s hopes all feature in this special Market Madness.
Kate Mason and Ben Jacobs are live as the World Cup gets underway and the transfer window heats up. GiveMeSport’s Sam Cohen sits down with Sir Geoff Hurst, England’s 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero, to discuss what it really takes to win football’s biggest prize.
We also hear from Brazil and AC Milan legend Kaká on whether Brazil can finally end their long wait for World Cup glory.
Ben reacts to England’s opening World Cup win over Croatia and delivers the latest transfer updates in his weekly mailbag, including Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali interest from Spurs, Manchester City and Manchester United, Yan Diomande to Liverpool, Mateus Fernandes, Adam Wharton and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
