Lewis Steele: Slot has to stop excuses but he’ll be in dugout next season

He notes: “You’d want a proper holding midfielder to just sit in there and plug the passes… they’ve never really replaced those holding midfielders.”

This is a tactical deficiency that has been exposed repeatedly in big matches. While players like Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have shown quality, consistency has been lacking.

FSG face a delicate balancing act here. As Steele explains, “Slot mentioned… Liverpool need to sell to buy.” That means any midfield reinforcement may depend on outgoing transfers.

For next season, the priority is clear. Liverpool need a defensively disciplined midfielder who can anchor the system, allowing creative players to operate with greater freedom.

Slot Under Pressure to Deliver Without Excuses

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Steele’s analysis centres on Arne Slot. The Dutch manager is expected to remain in charge next season, but patience will be limited.

Steele is direct in his assessment: “They can’t allow it to get to a point where ten games into next season… he’s moaning about missed chances.”

He goes further, criticising the narrative around injuries and officiating: “They can’t keep moaning about injuries… they can’t moan about referees.”

This is where leadership becomes crucial. Slot must shift from explaining problems to solving them. Steele encapsulates this perfectly: “Talk about how you’re going to fix it, not what the problem is.”

For FSG, backing Slot means more than just retaining him. It requires ensuring he has the tools and accountability to deliver results quickly. Next season will define his tenure.

Big-Money Signings Must Step Up

Liverpool’s investment in players like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak has yet to yield consistent returns. Steele does not shy away from this reality.

“You’d need a lot more from them two,” he insists. “You’d want Isak to be hitting fifteen goals next season at the very least.”

Wirtz, meanwhile, has shown flashes but lacks sustained impact. Steele observes that while there have been moments of brilliance, “he’ll just completely vanish in the next match.”

For next season, both players must become central figures. Their output in goals and assists will be critical in reshaping Liverpool’s attacking identity post-Salah.

This is where FSG’s investment strategy comes under scrutiny. Big fees demand big returns, and the margin for patience is shrinking.

Youth Integration Could Shape Next Season

Amid the uncertainty, one bright spot is the emergence of Rio Ngumoha. Steele is a strong advocate for increased involvement.

“Every single time he plays he gets people excited,” he says. “He’s the sort of player that gets bums off seats.”

While caution is necessary given his age, Steele believes the youngster deserves more minutes: “There’s nothing to say he can’t be having sixty minutes and coming on for half an hour.”

Integrating youth effectively will be another test for Slot next season. It offers a pathway to inject energy and unpredictability into a squad that has often looked flat.

Conclusion: FSG Decisions Will Define Next Season

Liverpool stand at a crossroads. The combination of squad rebuild, managerial pressure and evolving leadership dynamics creates a complex landscape.

Steele summarises the challenge succinctly: “It’s going to define the next eighteen months, this decision.”

For FSG, the task is clear. Back Slot decisively, strengthen key areas and ensure the squad is equipped to compete from the opening weeks of next season.

Failure to do so risks another campaign of inconsistency. Success, however, could mark the beginning of a new cycle at Anfield.