Arne Slot could become victim of own success at Liverpool after ‘surprise’
Arne Slot could have been forgiven for enduring a trophy-less season with Liverpool this year, in the inaugural campaign post-Jurgen Klopp.
While Liverpool reeled from a last-16 exit from the Champions League, a meek exit from the FA Cup with a reserve side to Championship opponents and a surprise Carabao Cup final defeat, they have taken the Premier League by storm.
Not even last week’s first defeat on the road of the season, at Fulham, can spoil the imminent party as much as merely delay it a touch.
Slot, by that respect, has overachieved in a transition year. As a result, the expectations will mount on the experienced Dutchman for 2025-26.
Liverpool expectations to be ‘sky-high’ after Slot achievements
Slot took on a mountain of pressure when he made the switch to Anfield, as anyone succeeding Klopp would have done.
A bold but rewarding call, Slot is about to lift Liverpool’s second Premier League title and 20th all-time English championship.
However, the objectives will become harsher and more demanding next season, as highlighted by TV commentator and expert football analyst Ian Darke.
“Everything has been a nice surprise for Liverpool this season,” Darke exclusively told Liverpool News.
“Expectations are always sky-high. This time around, people probably thought this would be a year of transition. On the whole, Slot has barely put a foot wrong, and it’s all gone very well.
“If he delivers the title, which he’s going to, next year, the expectations will be far, far higher. Some will want the Premier League retained and then the Champions League as well, and there is that danger that he becomes a victim of his own success, as it happens with managers. But Slot knew when he signed on the dotted line at Anfield, he was expected to deliver big things.”
Salah and van Dijk boosts can steer Reds back to long-term dominance
Liverpool have been buoyed this week by a new contract confirmed for Mohamed Salah, with Virgil van Dijk not far behind him.
While it is undoubtedly a massive blow and a learning curve to be seemingly losing Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer to Real Madrid, the Reds will be over the moon to tie down two talismanic figures.
| Liverpool – 2024-25 | Progress |
| Premier League | 1st* |
| Champions League | Round of 16 |
| FA Cup | Fourth round |
| EFL Cup | Runners-up |
Salah and van Dijk are not getting any younger, granted, but will certainly still be key influences for a while yet, and can help provide that springboard for long-term English football dominance.
Liverpool will be eyeing back-to-back Premier League titles and a real crack back at the Champions League next term – and Slot knows he has to consistently deliver after passing his probationary debut year with flying colours.