Slot’s 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool might solely draw in opposition to Crystal Palace to shut their 2024/25 Premier League marketing campaign. Oh properly. Arne Slot’s aspect may very well be afforded a loosening of requirements after such dominance for the lion’s share of the 12 months.

Nobody gave the Reds a shot, however they scored the largest prize of all of them in climbing again onto their perch by profitable their twentieth top-flight title, levelling with beleaguered rivals Manchester United within the all-time standings.

It has been an unrelenting 12 months, and it is comprehensible that the hosts would wrestle to impose themselves in opposition to Palace, the FA Cup champions, with Mohamed Salah lashing house from shut vary late on to shut his extraordinary time period.

Nonetheless, there is no denying Liverpool have faltered since sealing the trophy, claiming solely two factors from a attainable 12. Now, it is all about relaxation and restoration throughout the summer season months, earlier than returning to defend their title and problem throughout different fronts subsequent season.

Sadly, the champions shall be pressured to start their second season below Slot’s wing with out Ryan Gravenberch within the squad, for he was despatched off earlier than the hour mark.

Why Ryan Gravenberch was despatched off

On Saturday, Gravenberch was topped the Premier League’s Younger Participant of the Season, having risen from middling ranks to change into a celebrity, an important piece and the beating coronary heart of Slot’s title-winning workforce.

He is been good all 12 months, and possibly saved his greatest blunder for the denouement, hacking down Daichi Kamada and seeing the glare of the crimson card with Liverpool 1-0 down.

Consequently, the Netherlands worldwide will serve a three-match suspension, lacking the Group Protect in opposition to the Eagles and the primary two fixtures of the 2025/26 Premier League marketing campaign.

It is a large blow, and any wrestle for fluency in these early autumnal weeks will underline the size of Gravenberch’s position in Slot’s system, with The Athletic’s James Pearce hailing him for being “so efficient and influential” for the title winners.

There’s one other member of Sunday’s beginning line-up who might not discover himself within the beginning line-up fairly so typically subsequent 12 months, and it isn’t for any disciplinary motive.

Certainly, Andy Robertson confirmed in opposition to Oliver Glasner’s aspect why Slot and FSG are so eager to interchange him within the switch market this summer season.

Andy Robertson confirmed why he ought to be axed

Robertson has been at Liverpool since becoming a member of from Hull Metropolis in a £10m bundle means again in 2017, with few past Anfield Street conscious that FSG had snagged themselves a discount.

Towards Crystal Palace, the 31-year-old performed his 342nd match for the membership, however there is no query he lacks his one-time athleticism and electrical energy.

It wasn’t an excellent show by any stretch, however the Liverpool ECHO’s Ian Doyle did give him a match ranking of 6/10, noting he was ‘regular if unspectacular’.

Nonetheless, the info suggests he left loads to be desired.

It wasn’t probably the most environment friendly day on the workplace for the Scotland skipper, whose inventive expertise had been blunted and whose defensive utility yielded rotten outcomes. Robertson failed to search out his man with any of his seven tried crosses, misplaced all 4 duels and could not create a single key cross regardless of shedding the ball 17 instances.

Palace’s low block was sturdy and safe, however Robertson’s errant efforts to breach the defences got here to nought, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Actual Madrid this summer season, there’s each motive for Slot to push for a brand new left-back, one who might supply some elevated attacking output.

Subsequent 12 months, there’ll seemingly be a spot within the first-team squad for Robertson, who has given Liverpool a lot, however it will be to the detriment of this budding challenge to go once more with him within the first-choice place. A brand new man is required to take the baton.

And that man would possibly simply be Milos Kerkez, with Fabrizio Romano confirming talks are underway because the Reds search out a long-term alternative.

Bournemouth’s Kerkez has been one of many Premier League’s greatest breakout successes this season, praised for his “completely distinctive” efforts by Sky Sports activities’ Dougie Critchley.

Nonetheless solely 21, he’d set Liverpool’s left-back berth up for a lot of seasons, ought to he signal this summer season.

Although Robertson, who’s out of contract on the finish of subsequent season, hopes to play a job via Slot’s second season and possibly even past, it is clear Kerkez has the capability to nestle proper right into a distinguished place from the get-go.

Liverpool are on the up, all proper, and although Robertson is clearly previous his greatest, he is performed an instrumental position in securing one other Premier League title.

Nonetheless, sentiments apart, the veteran’s efficiency in opposition to Crystal Palace illustrated precisely why an improve is required if Liverpool are to go from energy to energy subsequent time period.