Jamie Carragher makes major Arne Slot point after Liverpool transfer statement

Liverpool have romped into the next round of the Champions League and top the Premier League table in Arne Slot’s debut season, but there is consternation among a section of the club’s support about a lack of spending

Does Arne Slot need to splash some cash to ensure Liverpool’s title success?

There is a school of thought among some supporters that the Reds boss could do with reinforcements and that the club’s owners, FSG, need to dip into their pockets to give him just that before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Slot, 46, hasn’t made any major signings since replacing Jurgen Klopp last summer. Federico Chiesa has been the only first-team acquisition in the here and now, joining in a cut-price £10million move from Juventus in something of a punt due to his fitness record – and he has managed just 190 minutes of first-team action since.

And a deal has also been sealed for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who arrives in the summer after a £29million move was sanctioned.

Focus from the club’s top brass has been on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s respective contract situations. The future of each of that trio, so integral to recent triumphs at Anfield and once more under Slot this term, remains in doubt.

Instead, Slot has made do with what he has had at his disposal. Arguably, he has the Premier League’s most complete squad and the Dutchman has done a wonderful job in utilising that to the best of its abilities.

According to Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, that’s been his standout quality since arriving, making use of and improving the pieces he inherited from his predecessor.

“I’m a big believer in that [coaches improve players] – we all get excited by transfers and we always want to see our team improve,” said Carragher, speaking during The Overlap’s Fan Debate Transfer Special. “Sometimes when we talk about a coach, I almost think sometimes a coach’s role is not just buying players, it’s actually improving the players he inherits.

“So when you actually look at Slot – [Ryan] Gravenberch looks a different player, Luis Diaz looks a different player,[Cody] Gakpo looks a different player. So he’s had an influence there. Some of them [were] bought 18 months ago but they look completely different.”

Liverpool have signed only one first-team player [Chiesa] in the last two transfer windows, and unless something happens between now and Monday, that record is set to stand.

For Carragher, it isn’t because the club don’t have money to spend. It’s that, right now, with what might be available presently on the market, they don’t need to. And that should only help their spending power at the end of the season.

“There’s no doubt, the fact that Liverpool haven’t bought anyone this window, didn’t really buy anyone in the summer, there must be a big pot of money there to buy whoever they want maybe next summer.”

With the futures of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold not yet resolved, keeping cash back for the summer may well be the smart play.

Only time will tell.

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