Slot Must Find Reds Way To Wrestle Back Control

Liverpool have struggled against their opponents' physicality in two damaging defeats inside five days

- Will Unwin

It has been a chastening week for Liverpool after deserved defeats in two competitions, highlighting their flaws amid a season of Premier League domination. Paris Saint-Germain outplayed them in the Champions League and Newcastle's muscle left Arne Slot needing to wait a few weeks longer for his first trophy in England.

The Dutchman has indicated Liverpool will use the transfer market this summer to help him to shape a squad in the manner he desires. Slot took over a group of players chiselled by Jurgen Klopp, used to working under him in a strategy befitting his heavy metal football. Only Federico Chiesa has joined over the past two windows and his consolation strike in the Carabao Cup final was his first notable contribution.

There are the complications arising from those with contracts rapidly running down. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are yet to put the rumour mill out of business, leaving questions for Slot and the sporting director, Richard Hughes. Alexander-Arnold is the homegrown hero capable of leading the club for years, Van Dijk the highly respected captain, and Salah the Premier League's most dominant player, who will need to apply for planning permission for a new mantelpiece in May.