The dust has settled, acceptance firmly embedded in the myriad of Liverpool supporters who thought Wembley would bring more joy, sparking the beginning of a double for Arne Slot in his debut season.
And that is important, that last part. Slot has not yet spent a year in the hot seat. Jurgen Klopp left after winning the Carabao Cup last term, falling short across other routes.
But this time, Liverpool have surprised the world by imperiously shifting into pole position in the Premier League. 12 points cover the ground between Anfield and their closest competitor Arsenal. It’s a significant gap and one that ceding would mark an unprecedented collapse in the business stretch.
However, FSG will bore witness to a startling polarity against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, with Alexander Isak once again reminding Liverpool and the rest of them that he will be the most covetous option on the market when it opens in a few months.
Alexander Isak showed why Liverpool need him
Isak. Born in Sweden, reared under the fabled Sociedad mountains and shaped into a superstar at Newcastle, getting better and better after joining for a club-record £63m fee in 2022.
After sealing the Magpies’ victory over Liverpool, respected analyst Raj Chohan hailed him as “the best striker in the world this season, bar none.”
That’s 23 goals for the campaign, three assists. It’s no surprise he’s so desperately wanted for by Europe’s elite, Liverpool among the most interested.
But it’s not just the numbers. Isak is so intelligent and instinctive. His movement and anticipation are second to none. Injury problems, also, seem to have deserted him.
Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed Anfield’s desire to bring him in this summer, though finances will determine the true substance of the pursuit.
Isak is a superstar, but Liverpool boast a first-class squad that such a player would love to join, especially with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all flattering to deceive and thus facing potential sales this summer.
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
While the frontline needs to be revamped, Liverpool certainly don’t need to replace any of their starting midfield options, merely bring in some competition, some depth.
After all, they are regarded as one of the best in the business, repurposing Liverpool’s engine room and driving it toward trophies.
All three were signed by Klopp, but one in particular has Slot’s mark on him, thriving in a new role.
Slot's Liverpool triumph is now worth as much as Isak
Liverpool’s season has been stained by the performances over the past several weeks, but there’s still a Premier League title on the line and that was the all-important prize before the season started – in fact, such success was considered out of Slot’s reach by most.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
But the mood shifted quite swiftly as Liverpool proved themselves title contenders. Now, they are way ahead in the driving seat.
Pre-season trepidation devolved into something more worrying when Liverpool failed to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi last summer, doubly so when Ryan Gravenberch was promoted to the first-choice at number six. An internal solution to an obviously outward problem.
Only, it wasn’t so. In fact, Liverpool have gone from strength to strength with the Dutchman partnering Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the Red centre.
He’s been nothing short of a revelation, with Reds reporter Ste Hoare hailing him for his “sensational” performances this term. Had Gravenberch failed to adapt to Slot’s teachings, Liverpool would not be ahead in the title race.
As you can see, the leaps and bounds he’s made this year have been extraordinary, so much more composed and intelligent with his distribution, also providing an athletic and energetic approach to meld with his central peers.
Matches (starts)
26 (12)
29 (29)
Goals
1
0
Assists
0
2
Touches*
28.8
65.5
Pass completion
83%
89%
Key passes*
0.6
0.8
Dribbles*
0.9
1.0
Ball recoveries*
2.8
5.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
3.5
Total duels (won)*
2.8 (47%)
4.7 (58%)
The decision to sign Bayern Munich’s struggling prospect for £34m in August 2023 looks all the more clear. Klopp saw something in the Netherlands star, and Slot has now activated his latent brilliance.
In fact, as per CIES Football Observatory – the world’s leading football-focused statisticians – Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder is currently worth about £88m, marginally more than Newcastle’s Isak: £87m.
Now, the free-scoring striker is going to fetch a heavier cost if he is to leave this coming summer. Newcastle have already revealed they are looking for a sum in excess of £150m to grant his sale.
Though Gravenberch has looked somewhat leggy in recent weeks, it’s hardly surprising given he’s started the vast majority of Liverpool’s fixtures. Indeed, the 22-year-old’s 3,516 minutes played across all competitions this year is surpassed only by Virgil van Dijk and Salah.
Comparatively speaking, he’s got every bit as much potential as a player like Isak, who is three years the midfielder’s senior. If he continues to make headway over the coming years, there’s no telling how high Gravenberch might reach as he soars toward the uppermost echelon of midfielders playing in Europe right now – if he’s not reached that level already.
Suarez 2.0: Liverpool line up move for "the most complete CF in the world"
This free-scoring centre-forward would be an even bigger deal than Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.
ByAngus Sinclair Mar 16, 2025