Liverpool’s Academy Pathway is Falling Apart Under Arne Slot – Opinion

Rio Ngumoha is the one exception, but even that feels reluctant rather than intentional.

Despite his obvious talent and explosiveness, his minutes have still been heavily restricted. And when he has played, it has often felt driven more by injuries and necessity than by genuine developmental planning.

That is not sustainable for a club built around internal progression. Because youth integration is not charity. It is a strategy. And Liverpool is now paying the price for abandoning it.

A Financial Problem Created by Coaching Failure

This issue extends far beyond football philosophy. It directly impacts Liverpool’s financial model.

For years, Liverpool has relied on intelligent squad churn to maintain competitiveness without reckless spending. Developing academy players into sellable assets is a huge part of that strategy. It allows the sporting department to reinvest without constantly relying on ownership cash injections.

But that only works if players are visible.

A young player with ten senior appearances immediately carries more value than one hidden entirely within academy football. Exposure creates market confidence. Clubs buy potential when they see evidence that it can survive at the senior level.

This summer, Liverpool may find that several academy players have dramatically lower market value than expected simply because they have not been showcased under Slot.

That hurts Richard Hughes. It hurts Michael Edwards. And ultimately, it hurts Liverpool’s transfer flexibility.

When young players are frozen out, you do not just lose development time—you lose millions.

And this is where the criticism toward Slot becomes unavoidable.

Managers at elite clubs must operate in alignment with the wider structure. Klopp understood that. Even when chasing trophies, he consistently integrated young talent into the squad ecosystem. He created belief throughout the academic levels because players could see a pathway.

Right now, that pathway looks blocked.

Worse still, the disconnect feels cultural. There appears to be very little relationship between the first team and the academy structure. Fans notice it. Staff notice it. And internally, it creates frustration throughout the football club.

Liverpool’s academy remains one of the strongest in England, but its purpose is being diminished by a manager who appears unwilling—or unable—to utilise it properly.

That is another reason why this upcoming end-of-season review feels so decisive.

Because Liverpool is not just evaluating results. They are evaluating leadership, structure, and alignment across every layer of the club.

And when the first team becomes disconnected from the academy, disconnected from supporters, and disconnected from the wider sporting strategy, problems begin to spread everywhere.

This is no longer just about tactics or league position. It is about a football club losing internal cohesion. And the cost of that reaches far beyond the pitch.