Micah Richards points out Arne Slot’s ‘biggest job’ at Anfield
Arne Slot has commenced his Liverpool career on a good note by defeating Ipswich Town 2-0 in the team’s Premier League opener. The Dutchman, however, has a long way to go if he were to win over the fans after Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Though winning trophies would be the currency of success at Anfield, Micah Richards believes the manager has another huge task at hand which the former Manchester City right-back described as his ‘biggest job’. It is the retention of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, all of whose contracts expire next year.
The 36-year-old said the following on Sky Bet’s Stick To Football podcast (h/t Mirror):
“It’s really concerning, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, have they only got one year left on their deals? That would be concerning for me. That’s the biggest job [Slot] has got to do.”
Alan Shearer interrupted Richards to point out that even Salah is in the last year of his contract at Anfield and is nearing free agency just like the defensive duo of Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk.
The defenders and Salah were in the starting eleven for the Ipswich Town match and regardless of their contract situations, it is anticipated that they will be playing big roles for most of the season.
Slot’s job would be to build a convincing sporting project to convince Salah and Van Dijk to spend the last years of their careers on Merseyside, however, it is still not known whether the Liverpool fan favourites prefer a glorious ending or would like to pursue the riches of Saudi Arabia in possibly the last move of their respective times as footballers.
Alexander-Arnold’s situation is slightly different. He has yet to enter the prime years of his career and owing to an uncertainty regarding his future, Real Madrid are said to be circling over his services with the potential to land him for free in 2025.
While it goes without saying that Slot has to make the Liverpool trio feel wanted, there is only so much he can do without really having the keys to making the financial as well as sporting decisions surrounding the team.
It is perhaps on the board that they have been lax so far in not handing out contract extensions to three important players, whilst also not making an effort into replacing Salah and Van Dijk in the longer run as they are past the age of 30.
To make matters worse, Slot has also not been provided with any signing so far in his tenure as the club’s first-team coach. That is bound to raise more questions about the board than the ex-Feyenoord boss himself.
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It remains to be seen how the situations of Salah and Van Dijk pan out. Though their love for the club needs no introduction, it will be hard to argue against their logic of wanting a huge pay-check if they opt for move to the Middle East. However, Alexander-Arnold cannot be allowed to walk away for free and securing his future must be the big priority for the board.
