Slot’s 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool may solely draw in opposition to Crystal Palace to shut their 2024/25 Premier League marketing campaign. Oh properly. Arne Slot’s facet could possibly be afforded a loosening of requirements after such dominance for the lion’s share of the 12 months.

Nobody gave the Reds a shot, however they scored the most important prize of all of them in climbing again onto their perch by profitable their twentieth top-flight title, levelling with beleaguered rivals Manchester United within the all-time standings.

It has been an unrelenting 12 months, and it is comprehensible that the hosts would wrestle to impose themselves in opposition to Palace, the FA Cup champions, with Mohamed Salah lashing dwelling from shut vary late on to shut his extraordinary time period.

Nevertheless, there is not any denying Liverpool have faltered since sealing the trophy, claiming solely two factors from a potential 12. Now, it is all about relaxation and restoration throughout the summer time months, earlier than returning to defend their title and problem throughout different fronts subsequent season.

Sadly, the champions can be pressured to start their second season below Slot’s wing with out Ryan Gravenberch within the squad, for he was despatched off earlier than the hour mark.

Why Ryan Gravenberch was despatched off

On Saturday, Gravenberch was topped the Premier League’s Younger Participant of the Season, having risen from middling ranks to change into a celebrity, an important piece and the beating coronary heart of Slot’s title-winning staff.

He is been sensible all 12 months, and possibly saved his greatest blunder for the denouement, hacking down Daichi Kamada and seeing the glare of the pink card with Liverpool 1-0 down.

Consequently, the Netherlands worldwide will serve a three-match suspension, lacking the Group Defend in opposition to the Eagles and the primary two fixtures of the 2025/26 Premier League marketing campaign.

It is a huge blow, and any wrestle for fluency in these early autumnal weeks will underline the size of Gravenberch’s function in Slot’s system, with The Athletic’s James Pearce hailing him for being “so efficient and influential” for the title winners.

There’s one other member of Sunday’s beginning line-up who could not discover himself within the beginning line-up fairly so usually subsequent 12 months, and it isn’t for any disciplinary motive.

Certainly, Andy Robertson confirmed in opposition to Oliver Glasner’s facet why Slot and FSG are so eager to switch him within the switch market this summer time.

Andy Robertson confirmed why he must be axed

Robertson has been at Liverpool since becoming a member of from Hull Metropolis in a £10m bundle method again in 2017, with few past Anfield Highway conscious that FSG had snagged themselves a cut price.

In opposition to Crystal Palace, the 31-year-old performed his 342nd match for the membership, however there is not any query he lacks his one-time athleticism and electrical energy.

It wasn’t a fantastic show by any stretch, however the Liverpool ECHO’s Ian Doyle did give him a match ranking of 6/10, noting he was ‘regular if unspectacular’.

Nevertheless, the information suggests he left lots to be desired.

It wasn’t essentially the most environment friendly day on the workplace for the Scotland skipper, whose inventive abilities had been blunted and whose defensive software yielded rotten outcomes. Robertson failed to search out his man with any of his seven tried crosses, misplaced all 4 duels and could not create a single key move regardless of dropping the ball 17 occasions.

Palace’s low block was robust and safe, however Robertson’s errant efforts to breach the defences got here to nought, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Actual Madrid this summer time, there’s each motive for Slot to push for a brand new left-back, one who may supply some elevated attacking output.

Subsequent 12 months, there’ll possible be a spot within the first-team squad for Robertson, who has given Liverpool a lot, however it will be to the detriment of this budding mission to go once more with him within the first-choice place. A brand new man is required to take the baton.

And that man may simply be Milos Kerkez, with Fabrizio Romano confirming talks are underway because the Reds hunt down a long-term alternative.

Bournemouth’s Kerkez has been one of many Premier League’s greatest breakout successes this season, praised for his “completely distinctive” efforts by Sky Sports activities’ Dougie Critchley.

Nonetheless solely 21, he’d set Liverpool’s left-back berth up for a lot of seasons, ought to he signal this summer time.

Although Robertson, who’s out of contract on the finish of subsequent season, hopes to play a task by way of Slot’s second season and possibly even past, it is clear Kerkez has the capability to nestle proper right into a outstanding place from the get-go.

Liverpool are on the up, all proper, and although Robertson is clearly previous his greatest, he is performed an instrumental function in securing one other Premier League title.

Nevertheless, sentiments apart, the veteran’s efficiency in opposition to Crystal Palace illustrated precisely why an improve is required if Liverpool are to go from energy to energy subsequent time period.