Troy Deeney believes Arne Slot might shake things up at Liverpool by selling a key player and changing the team’s formation. Specifically, Deeney thinks Slot could sell Mohamed Salah, the £34 million signing from AS Roma, and switch to a 5-3-2 formation if Marc Guehi joins the team.

Potential Sale of Mohamed Salah

Deeney’s reasoning behind Salah’s potential sale is likely due to the player’s age (33) and the fact that he’ll be entering the final year of his contract. With Salah’s contract situation, Liverpool might consider selling him to avoid losing him for free in 2025. A 5-3-2 formation would allow Liverpool to utilize wing-backs like Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, who are more attack-minded.

New Formation and Player Roles

In this hypothetical 5-3-2 formation, Deeney envisions ¹:

– Wing-Backs: Frimpong and Kerkez would provide width and attacking flair.

– Midfield: A creative number 10 role, potentially filled by Florian Wirtz, would be supported by two other midfielders.

– Strikers: Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike would form a potent striking duo.

Other Liverpool Players’ Contract Situations

Deeney also discussed the contract situations of other Liverpool players, including Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both of whom are in the final year of their contracts. Deeney believes Liverpool should prioritize signing Van Dijk and Salah to new deals, given their importance to the team.

– Virgil van Dijk: Deeney thinks Van Dijk is irreplaceable at center-back, emphasizing the need for Liverpool to secure him.

– Trent Alexander-Arnold: Deeney suggests Alexander-Arnold might be easier to replace, potentially with Conor Bradley, who has impressed in his appearances for Liverpool ².

Arne Slot’s Impact on Liverpool

While Deeney hasn’t directly expressed concerns about Slot’s ability to manage Liverpool’s star players, some pundits worry about Slot’s experience managing high-profile players with high salaries. Slot’s success at Feyenoord has earned him a reputation as a talented manager, but the Liverpool job will be a significant step up ³.

Overall, Deeney’s insights suggest that Liverpool might undergo significant changes under Arne Slot, with potential departures, new formations, and a focus on securing key players’ futures.