Arne Slot has made a perfect start to life as a Liverpool manager.
Liverpool outclassed Manchester United 3-0 on Sunday at Old Trafford to maintain their 100% start to the new Premier League season.
Whilst clubs like Chelsea and even Manchester United spent heavily in the summer, those on Merseyside were a lot quieter.
Federico Chiesa was Liverpool’s standout purchase in a bargain deal, whilst goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili also joined the club, but he was loaned back to Valencia.
Slot wanted the club to bring in a much-needed number six, but to the surprise of everyone, Martín Zubimendi turned down Liverpool.
There was no panic from the team because they didn’t push for anyone else, with many feeling that, apart from the number six spot, Slot has a great squad to work with.
Paul Scholes was on the touchline during Liverpool’s win over Manchester United and he was really impressed by what he saw.
Whilst everyone concentrated on the first XI, including midfielder Ryan Gravenberch starring for Liverpool, as Scholes was keen to point towards the club’s bench.
The legendary midfielder shared that when Liverpool’s bench players walked past him he thought ‘wow’ and how he couldn’t believe the quality they have.
Chiesa was in the stands, but Scholes also mentioned Harvey Elliott and how there is a ‘real dominance’ to the squad, as he told Premier League Productions (01/09/24 at 6:10 pm).
Liverpool’s squad depth
“When you see the squad, the first XI was brilliant, that’s probably their easiest game out of the three they have had,” said Scholes.
“Then we saw the subs warm up and go past us, I thought ‘wow, this is a proper squad of players’. I think he (Slot) has been quite fortunate to walk into that. Of course, he has to put his own stamp on it and I am sure he will do as we have seen in the first three games.
“They look defensively better, although, they did concede a couple of chances – we talk about the six forwards they have got. They also have five brilliant midfield players. You think of Curtis Jones, who isn’t here today. Harvey Elliott, who can come into that. I think he really likes them three (Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai). He didn’t change them three. It was all the forwards. The right-back or the left-back. There is a real dominance about that Liverpool squad. They could really challenge for that title this year.”
Who is on Liverpool’s bench?
Centre-back Jarell Quansah enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season and was on standby for the England squad for this summer’s European championship.
Conor Bradley also received rave reviews and is the back-up option to Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Joe Gomez as another defensive option.
Then there is Cody Gakpo, who had an outstanding Euro 2024, including the inconsistent but ever-dangerous Darwin Nunez.
READ MORE: Legend says Liverpool star is showing why he can be ‘better than Jude Bellingham’
If Slot wants to change it up in midfield, then he can use the underrated Wataru Endo and rising star Harvey Elliott, with Chiesa and Curtis Jones not in the matchday squad for the weekend.
Caoimhin Kelleher and Kostas Tsimikas were the other players on Liverpool’s bench at Old Trafford, as they will all be needed after the international break when the games come in thick and fast.
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