Liverpool hit gold on “magic” Klopp signing now worth even more than Trent

It seems like Liverpool’s anticipated Premier League title goes to be tinged with a fair proportion of poignancy.

Final summer time, Jurgen Klopp stepped down after virtually 9 years on the Anfield helm. It harm, however Liverpool endured and are charging towards glory unexpected by most all observers at the start of the marketing campaign.

Liverpool’s hopeful triumph is popping right into a farewell, too. One of many membership’s very personal is on the point of strive his hand at one thing new. It is starting to appear to be it is accomplished and dusted.

Farewell, Trent Alexander-Arnold

Probably the most painful half is that when you actually cease and suppose, you possibly can see the logic. Liverpool’s vice-captain, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is on the point of agreeing to a pre-contract settlement with Actual Madrid, and it hurts.

It hurts as a result of this is likely one of the metropolis’s personal, nurtured from a younger age to turn into a mainstay in Merseyside’s most profitable crew in a number of generations.

Beneath Arne Slot, Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold are heading in the right direction to win the Premier League, agency favourites with a 12-point lead and simply 9 video games left to play. He is already lifted the title earlier than, one of many core pillars of Klopp’s dynasty.

It hurts, nevertheless it’s hardly a shock. Alexander-Arnold has been quiet on the contract entrance for the marketing campaign, and at 26 is coming into his ostensible prime, having conquered the total gamut. Actual Madrid aren’t a divisional rival (although they’ve been the Reds’ European bane lately), and they’re the world’s most prestigious outfit in addition to.

The reasoning is obvious. Alexander-Arnold needs greatness. We could not agree together with his name, however it’s his name.

Now, Slot wants Liverpool’s different distinguished artistic gamers to step up.

Liverpool’s subsequent Trent must step up

Liverpool are going to mourn the departure of their boyhood hero, however Alexander-Arnold’s choice will not less than be attenuated considerably by the doubtless Premier League triumph and the overload of high-class high quality to maintain Slot’s system purring over the approaching years.

Conor Bradley, it is your time. The 21-year-old right-back has been ready within the wings for over a yr now and has greater than sufficient high quality to rise to an everyday beginning position within the years to come back.

Noise relating to Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is definitely going to accentuate as Alexander-Arnold’s destiny is sealed. Liverpool sources counsel discussions have already been held with the Dutchman’s brokers, and he might be part of Bradley in Slot’s backline in just some months.

Nonetheless, FSG cannot and will not anticipate a right-back to duplicate Alexander-Arnold’s virtually preternatural artistic powers. Different Liverpool stars are going to want to step up in that regard, Dominik Szoboszlai chief amongst them.

Szoboszlai, 23, has been amongst Liverpool’s most improved gamers this season, actually coming into his personal because the flip of the calendar yr. Liverpool signed the Hungarian from RB Leipzig for a £60m charge in June 2023, an important a part of the essential midfield rebuild.

His ceaseless work-rate, well-oiled engine and tenacious angle have gained over the Reds followers, with Liverpool content material creator Asim Mahmood even hailing him as a “champion performer” who invariably places in an “absolute monster of a shift.”

He wants extra within the output division, although, for certain. Particularly now that Trent’s leaving. Throughout all competitions, the attacking midfielder has scored seven targets and supplied six assists throughout 40 matches, which is a middling return at finest.

Rating among the many backside 36% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Premier League for assists and the highest 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, you possibly can see the place the room for enchancment lies.

Szoboszlai might want to make extra of his technical items subsequent season, not simply offering extra of a menace within the ultimate third however taking Alexander-Arnold’s mantle and supplying the forwards with constant artistic assist.

In equity, there are indicators that the £120k-per-week expertise has made inroads on the playmaking entrance since Slot changed Klopp, creating extra large possibilities within the Premier League this season.

It is maybe thrilling that the height of his high-ceilinged potential is but untapped. Even so, Szoboszlai is considered one of Liverpool’s most precious gamers, with Transfermarkt recording his present price ticket at about £68m.

That is even larger than Alexander-Arnold’s worth of roughly £63m (Transfermarkt don’t contemplate the participant’s contractual state of affairs when making an appraisal).

It highlights the calibre of participant Slot has on his fingers at Liverpool, and perhaps emphasises why Liverpool will likely be okay when Alexander-Arnold lays down his vice-captaincy and strikes to Madrid.

As soon as hailed for his “magic” by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, Szoboszlai has every thing he must turn into one of many best attacking midfielders within the fashionable Premier League.

He is already regarded to be among the many most precious on the continent, and with Alexander-Arnold leaving, he might want to lead the step-up to strengthen Liverpool’s playmaking division.