With just two months of the season remaining, Liverpool’s task has become clear as Arne Slot looks to put double cup disappointment behind him and secure the league title
With nine Premier League matches remaining, Liverpool know exactly what they need to do. A painful Champions League exit was followed by defeat in the Carabao Cup final, leaving the Premier League as their one remaining shot at a trophy.
Arne Slot’s side are very much in pole position. Their lead over second-place Arsenal stands at 12 points, and they have every chance of clinching top spot before the teams meet in May.
After that, attention will turn to an important summer for Slot and his team regardless of what happens in the league. Here, Mirror Football looks at the latest news from around Anfield.
Nunez replacement identified
Liverpool have been urged to sign Liam Delap if Darwin Nunez leaves Anfield in the summer. Ipswich star Delap has trice as many league goals as Saudi-linked Nunez – 10 to the Uruguayan’s give – despite Kieran McKenna’s team battling to stay in the league.
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Former England striker Alan Shearer has urged Liverpool to make Delap a priority. “Liverpool are going to need a centre-forward,” he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“They might try and move Nunez on and bring someone else into that position. There will be big football clubs after Delap I’m sure of that.”
Real Madrid are confident of landing Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite failing to land the defender in January. Alexander-Arnold is one of three senior stars out of contract in the summer, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool have reportedly failed with their latest efforts to convince the defender to sign a new contract. He will be able to join a new club on a free transfer in the summer, with a Madrid switch allowing him to link up with England team-mate Jude Bellingham. Plenty of former Liverpool stars have given their verdict, while a potential replacement for the right-back has been identified. Mirror Football has gone deeper into the state of play when it comes to Alexander-Arnold’s future.
Former Liverpool favourite Dirk Kuyt has urged the club’s higher-ups to hand Virgil van Dijk a new contract. The club captain is pushing 34, but Kuyt has been impressed by his fellow Dutchman’s levels after a long-term injury during the 2020-21 season.
“Virgil leads in such a great way and he’s playing at his best level,” Kuyt told The Athletic. “He takes care of his own performances and he’s also there for others on and off the pitch. It wasn’t easy for him coming back from a bad injury and he had some criticism, but this season he’s been immense and I’m enjoying every minute of watching him play for Liverpool. He is turning 34 soon but players now can go on longer than those of my generation.
“It’s the same with Mo (Salah), who turns 33 in June. Everyone who likes Liverpool wants these players to sign new contracts tomorrow but we don’t know the details. All I can say is I hope that soon we get the green light that they will be staying at Liverpool as they’re still among the best players in the world.”
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