Liverpool transfer concern resurfaces as Arne Slot inherits two players with regrets

Ian Doyle provided analysis following Liverpool’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Monday.

Gakpo and Elliott have finished the season strongly (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Realistic slot facing transfer

After fifteen minutes of normal time elapsed, it became evident that this was not the most crucial match of Liverpool’s season. However, of the four substitutions made by Jurgen Klopp in one go, Wataru Endo’s exit was the one that finally cost the visitors a well-deserved win.

Even though Endo hadn’t had the best of starts, he played a crucial role in Liverpool taking control of the game and offering more protection to a defense that had been increasingly exposed in the first half.

But with the Japanese out of the picture, Alexis Mac Allister—who already came off as jaded and subpar—was left to put an end to Villa’s late charge, with unavoidable consequences. The Argentine was penalized for a poor pass that led to the first goal for the home team and lost the ball for Villa’s second goal, which changed the game’s momentum.

READ MORE: As the final farewell approaches, Jurgen Klopp discusses how Liverpool’s mindset has changed.

READ MORE: Arne Slot has witnessed a prime illustration of the Liverpool issue that Jurgen Klopp abandoned.

However, Mac Allister isn’t a defensive midfielder by trade, even though he performed admirably for the majority of the first half of the season. Not all games can be played by Endo. Furthermore, with Stefan Bajcetic—an underutilized substitute in this instance—still in the early stages of his promising career, new manager Arne Slot will be aware of precisely where his team needs to be strengthened right away.

Despite all the talk this season about wasted opportunities, Liverpool has only scored one goal fewer than their entire 2019–20 title campaign with one game left to play. However, in all competitions, there has only been one clean sheet in fifteen attempts.

The Reds must return to their foundation in order to make the necessary progress toward contending for the championship, beginning with the appointment of a new, legitimate number six.

Both express regret for the season.

Both Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo would definitely prefer if the season was just getting started, but Alexis Mac Allister, who is clearly tired, will surely be among those relieved that it is almost over.

The two have been among the Reds’ best players over the last six weeks, along with Andy Robertson, who was sidelined due to a minor injury.

And they all had a significant influence on this game. Elliott’s goal contributions have significantly increased since the start of the year, and he has continued in that vein. Emiliano Martinez of Villa fumbled his cross within ninety seconds, but Elliott’s accurate dead-ball delivery allowed Jarell Quansah to score his first Premier League goal ever.

Intermittently, Gakpo reached 16 goals for the year by finishing a cross from Joe Gomez, the adaptable defender who once again did a commendable job filling in for Robertson at left back.

However, Gakpo’s dash to the finish line and Elliott’s spectacular finish will undoubtedly give Slot a lot to think about. They’re demonstrating that they belong in the upcoming Liverpool era.

Villa Park is the ideal location

The conclusion of Jurgen Klopp’s trip abroad at Villa Park was entirely fitting. After all, Liverpool has made some of its most iconic, puzzling, and downright frustrating road trips in the last ten years at the stadium.

The most notable of them was the thrilling victory in November 2019 that put the Reds on their way to their first championship in thirty years thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Robertson in the dying seconds to earn a 2-1 victory.

On the opposite end of the scale, less than a year later, there was the hilarious yet expensive 7-2 thrashing behind closed doors. In addition, there was the League Cup quarterfinal match in December 2019 that Liverpool was forced to play without their senior team, and the FA Cup third round match against Villa the following season saw Villa play without their first-choice team due to the coronavirus.

Even though third place was assured after title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal won over the weekend, there was nothing at stake for the visitors, but this match will go down in history nonetheless.

All that remains is Anfield on Sunday. People, get your tissues ready—this is going to be emotional.