Slot must take out Liverpool’s ‘Origi regen’

When defending a Premier League title, it is important to ensure you make signings of exceptional quality.

Liverpool did that, didn’t they? A record summer spending spree solidified FSG’s new era, with Arne Slot at the helm. The league title was in the bank and players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike arrived with high expectations, considered elite talents.

Isak, in particular, was a banker, having been hailed by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher as “the best striker in the Premier League right now” as Newcastle United rode the crest of a wave during the winter period last season.

But after being forced out of St. James’ Park in the summer, missing pre-season, the Swedish striker found himself in a tricky situation, lacking sharpness and consistency. In 752 minutes of action this season, Isak has scored just two goals.

Better days will surely come for this world-class player. And it’s not like he’s the only one flattering to deceive, with Ibrahima Konate and Cody Gakpo among those who put their jobs at risk with such poor performances.

Liverpool players whose jobs are under threat

First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s incendiary interview after the recent Premier League draw at Elland Road put his future with the Reds in jeopardy, with the 33-year-old left out of three successive starting XIs before being left out ahead of the win over Inter.

Salah has been mediocre this season, ineffective in front of goal and lacking work rate when it comes to pressing and defending. The intensity hasn’t been there, but Salah’s difficulties are part of a broader malaise.

When expressing his frustrations, the Egyptian superstar was perhaps referring to someone like Gakpo, who has steadily reclaimed his starting spot this season despite struggling with fluidity and dynamism on the left flank. Liverpool certainly need a more protean threat.

Konate was perhaps the worst of the group. Certainly, the French central defender has been riddled with errors, lacking any semblance of power from last season. He is out of contract at the end of the season, but FSG plans to renew his contract.

These are players who have not done justice to their reputation this season, and many Liverpool supporters would be pushing for improvements after such a miserable campaign.

However, there is another man who is in better shape than the lot, and yet he may have to be sold too, given Slot’s reluctance to give him minutes.

FSG could sell Liverpool’s ‘Origi regen’

Last season, Federico Chiesa flattered to deceive at Liverpool. The Italy international arrived in August 2024 as the only summer signing of Slot’s first transfer window, a cut-price purchase of just £12.5 million as he entered the final year of his Juventus contract.

Chiesa had to wait until the title was over before securing a starting place in the Premier League, and although Slot is yet to give the 27-year-old an early appearance in the Premier League and Champions League this season, Chiesa has redeemed himself with some impressive performances.

An intense and direct striker, the Italian scored the winner against Bournemouth in August, sealing three points in the Premier League season opener. He scored again against Crystal Palace in September, a consolation in defeat, while assisting twice against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

That type of power even saw the versatile striker hailed as a “Divock Origi regen” by journalist Lewis Oldham for his clutch quality in the final third, surging when his teammates around him were foundering.

The problem: Slot clearly doesn’t favor Chiesa as a prominent member of the team. And we have to believe that Liverpool will turn a corner sooner rather than later, fighting for silverware again, rather than scraping the gutter for points.

Would Chiesa fit into larger, more ambitious projects? Could the plain truth be that we saw how this played out last year?

Given he earns £150,000 a week, more than most of his teammates, FSG may feel they are not getting value for money and need to invest in a wide striker better aligned with Slot’s vision.

For that reason, it might be worth cashing out while Liverpool can still recoup some of their shrewd, low-risk investment.

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