Arne Slot has begun his tenure as Liverpool’s manager with great success.
Liverpool defeated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, continuing their perfect start to the Premier League season.
While teams like Chelsea and Manchester United invested heavily over the summer, Liverpool’s spending was relatively modest. Their notable acquisitions included Federico Chiesa at a favorable price, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was immediately loaned back to Valencia.
Slot had hoped to secure a defensive midfielder, but Martín Zubimendi’s decision to reject Liverpool came as a surprise. Despite this, the club didn’t pursue other targets, as many believed Slot already had a strong squad apart from that position.
Paul Scholes, who watched Liverpool’s win over Manchester United, was highly impressed with the team’s performance and depth. While the focus was on the starting eleven, including standout Ryan Gravenberch, Scholes was particularly struck by the quality of Liverpool’s bench.
Scholes noted that even when players like Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa were not on the pitch, the squad’s overall strength was evident. He praised the team’s depth, commenting that Liverpool’s bench players showcased a high level of talent.
Scholes observed, “The starting eleven was excellent, likely their easiest game of the season so far. Seeing the substitutes warm up and pass by, I was struck by the quality of the squad. Slot has been fortunate with the talent available to him. The team looks defensively solid and has a strong midfield and attack. Curtis Jones, although not present, and Harvey Elliott add to the depth. With this squad, Liverpool could be serious contenders for the title this year.”
Who is on the Bench?
Liverpool’s bench features a mix of emerging talent and experienced players.
Centre-back Jarell Quansah, who had a standout season last year and was a standby for the England squad at the European Championship, is among them.
Conor Bradley, providing backup to Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Joe Gomez offer additional defensive options.
Cody Gakpo, fresh off an impressive Euro 2024, and the dynamic Darwin Nunez are also on the bench. For midfield adjustments, Slot can call on the versatile Wataru Endo and the promising Harvey Elliott. Federico Chiesa and Curtis Jones were not included in the matchday squad for the weekend.
Additionally, Caoimhin Kelleher and Kostas Tsimikas were on the bench at Old Trafford, and all these players will be crucial as the fixtures become more frequent after the international break.
