Champions League secured - what's next for Slot and Liverpool?

Champions League secured - what's next for Slot and Liverpool?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Arne Slot's Liverpool have lost 19 games across all competitions this seasonPublished2 minutes agoCommentsThe sun shone and the tears flowed on an emotional day at Anfield as Liverpool said goodbye to two of their greats in Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.With Champions League qualification never really in doubt, the focus throughout the draw against Brentford was on the pair, who went off in the second half and were given a guard of honour.Nine years on, their chapter at Liverpool is over. As for Arne Slot, the next chapter may well define his own Liverpool future.In his first interview as Liverpool head coach in June 2024, Slot was asked about the "few similarities", external between his style of play and that of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.Slot spoke about how the Reds hierarchy did not want the exact same style but were looking for a similar approach, which was was one of the reasons why sporting director Richard Hughes opted to appoint him."We were all inspired by [Pep] Guardiola and Klopp and I think at a big club, which I worked in at Feyenoord as well, it is probably the only style you can play - to have the ball a lot, to have a lot of energy... there are comparisons between the club I left behind and the club I am going to work for now," Slot said at the time. "Both fans love to see a team that wants to do everything to win a game and if things are tough they try to do everything to turn the game around."In a stunning debut season, Slot's Liverpool romped to the Premier League title, losing just two games before the trophy was sealed in April 2025. In their first 34 league games, Liverpool averaged 2.4 points per game. The style was certainly not 'heavy metal', but they were measured in possession and experts in game management - winning 21 of the 23 games when they scored first.By contrast, Liverpo...