'I wouldn't bet against Mohamed Salah - and there's 3 things that will decide Arne Slot's future'

Liverpool hosts lowly Tottenham today with Arne Slot in need of points to qualify for the Champions League amid a difficult season in which Mohamed Salah has struggled

Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot have not had their best seasons with Liverpool.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool returns to Premier League action today, taking on Tottenham at Anfield. We spoke to Reds fan Nick Sapia from LFC Boston ahead of the game to get his take on a few key topics.

What have you made of this season so far? Are you still behind Arne Slot?

It’s obviously been a strange season, but it’s the transition season most of us probably expected at some point following the departure of Jurgen Klopp. It’s most frustrating to see it happening in a season where there isn’t a dominant team in the mix. Both the Premier League title and the European Cup are there for the taking, and it’s really disappointing Liverpool seem unable to take advantage.

I have a lot of sympathy for the manager, actually. The squad is in a state of flux — as exciting as the Wirtz, Ekitike, and Isak signings were, Liverpool does not have enough attackers. They sorely lack pace and viable backup options on the wings. They don’t have enough defenders, either.

Sure, injuries haven’t helped, but the bottom line is that this is an oddly constructed and incomplete squad that is also attempting to pivot to a different style of play than in previous seasons to accommodate the new signings. On top of that, the Premier League is devolving to a low-event, time-wasting, set-piece contest that Liverpool aren’t particularly well built for. Most of these things aren’t on the head coach, nor is the significant regression of several squad players who were excellent last season.

That said, I don’t think Slot has had a great season. The players often look caught between two ideas, and do neither well. Are they pressing high, or dropping into a mid-block? Are they attacking, or trying to exert control over the game? Too often, players just don’t seem to be on the same page, and that has been exploited over and over again.

If I had to guess, the likely outcome seems that both sides will agree to part ways over the summer. I think Liverpool will finish in the Champions League places, and Arne Slot will leave with an enormous amount of credit to his name, as he should. Winning the Premier League title and guiding the team to a Champions League place in a season of transition would be an impressive legacy to leave behind.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is under pressure(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool is behind in the Champions League and has Man City next in the FA Cup. How much will those competitions influence the general feeling when this season ends?

It’s all that’s left, really, so they feel season-defining at this point. The game in Istanbul this week was not good, but I do think Liverpool can turn that tie around at Anfield next week and progress in the Champions League. Beyond that, it’s hard to say, and the way this season has gone doesn’t fill me with much confidence knowing that likely ties against PSG and Real Madrid await on the road to the final.

Liverpool has to get past Galatasaray at a minimum. From there, it feels like a free hit knowing this team’s flaws and the difficult path they’ve drawn, but Liverpool in the knockout stages of the Champions League have come up with a few surprises over the years. So, you never know.

I’m oddly relaxed about the FA Cup. Manchester City is a flawed team, and that match will come in the middle of a difficult run of fixtures for them. Liverpool can win that match and get a trip to Wembley, which should be a great day out for the supporters. From there, let’s see what happens, but those two cups are all we have left to salvage something meaningful from this season.

Ryan Gravenberch signed a new contract last week. Who would you like to see tied down next?

Yes, excited to see that the club has finally gotten a key contract extension sorted at the right time. The obvious one is Dom Szoboszlai, isn’t it? There have been some rumblings about his future, but he’s critical to the squad right now.

He does a lot of the hard, physical work on the field, can play nearly any position on the field, and is a hugely valuable asset on set pieces. Who knows where we’d be without him this season?

I’d expect there to be some change in the midfield this summer, with at least one of Liverpool’s regular options moving on, but hopefully, we see Dom secure a long-term contract.

Mohamed Salah has been struggling for form. Are you worried? What comes next with him?

It’s difficult for me to diagnose what’s going on — I don’t think that much has changed physically from last season, arguably his best season in a Liverpool shirt. I think the issue has to do with Liverpool’s broader attacking issues. Salah is having to attempt too many take-ons against his defender, which really isn’t his game anymore.

It also wasn’t his game last year, where he served as such a creator in addition to having his usual nose for goal. Don’t get me wrong, he’s absolutely having a down year. There are times when his first touch is letting him down more than normal, and he’s wasting chances he normally converts, but we all know all Mo needs is a moment to make something special happen.

In terms of what happens next, I’ve always said I’d rather one season of Mo Salah too many than one too few. I think it’s really up to him — he’ll have one year left on his contract and is well within his rights to see that out. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he can rediscover his form and be a valuable member of an improved Liverpool next season. I wouldn’t bet against him, and I’m not quite through watching him play for the Reds just yet.