Liverpool have had a tough second season under Arne Slot
Liverpool are sitting in the top five of the Premier League as the 2025/26 season winds down, with Arne Slot pushing hard to lock in a Champions League spot. Liverpool are facing the same kind of pressure that once tested Jurgen Klopp, but the Dutch manager looks ready to avoid major transfer setbacks by finishing the year strong.
The Reds are technically defending the title from Slot’s first year, when they won the league after spending big and setting high expectations. However, this season has been a bit of a letdown with no trophies in sight, mostly because injuries and patchy form killed off their early rhythm.
Slot won the league less than a year ago, but there is already some heat on his position at Liverpool. Securing a top-five finish is a big deal because it guarantees Champions League football for next year, thanks to the Premier League’s solid European coefficient. Getting back into that competition gives Slot more leverage and makes Liverpool a much more attractive destination for summer signings.
Klopp discussed this exact problem back in 2023, when the team were fighting for European spots. He pointed out that missing the top four makes recruitment a nightmare, as top players want the biggest stage and the money that comes with it.
Liverpool lost out on Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid that summer, while Chelsea beat them to both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Even so, the club managed to bring in Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, the core group that drove the 2024/25 title win.
Slot is now building on that work. Playing in the Champions League could be the deciding factor as Liverpool go after Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. The young Ivorian forward has hogged the headlines with his pace and ability to find the net, though he has a habit of disappearing from games and needs to improve his defensive tracking.
With several big clubs interested, the chance to play European nights at Anfield usually tips the scales. Slot wants to bolster the squad properly to make sure next season isn’t as difficult as this one. Liverpool have a tough schedule ahead, travelling to an in-form Manchester United on Sunday before hosting Chelsea, then facing Aston Villa away and Brentford at home. With no other trophies to play for, securing Champions League football is the only goal left. That result will dictate the summer transfer plans and likely Slot’s future at the club.
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Are Liverpool repeating Klopp’s transfer mistakes under Slot?
Liverpool aren’t falling into the same trap that annoyed Klopp, mainly because they have a bit of a safety net in fifth place with that extra Champions League spot already locked in for the league. Slot took over a squad that won the title by blending in new signings well, but this season has shown some defensive holes and a tendency to fall apart late in games.
He uses his bench well and keeps the team attacking, but conceding too many goals after the 80th minute has been a real problem. Fans are seeing glimpses of the same slumps that followed previous title wins, but Slot has shown the kind of flexibility that Klopp always valued. The manager is already planning for new faces, and FSG seems prepared to back him heading into 2026/27.
Going after Diomande is a move to prepare for Mohamed Salah eventually leaving, as the teenager has a lot of spark on the wing and great vision, even if his consistency isn’t quite there yet. Liverpool’s pull in the market gets a lot stronger once European football is confirmed. Slot is taking lessons from the last transfer window and focusing on players who actually suit his high-press style while adding much-needed depth.
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These final matches will be a test of character, but a good run of results will get the job done. If Liverpool finish the season on a high, it sets them up for a big summer, keeps Slot firmly in the dugout, and carries over the momentum from their recent title win. The club are staying realistic but ambitious, and qualifying for the Champions League turns a frustrating year into one filled with hope again at Anfield.
