Four Crucial Steps Liverpool Must Take to Transform Their Fortunes Next Season

It has been a season of almost relentless misery for Liverpool.

Tipped to cruise to yet another Premier League title and mount a serious Champions League challenge before a ball was even kicked, the Reds have fallen woefully short of those lofty expectations. They will finish the campaign empty-handed, fighting to secure a return to the Champions League while frustration continues to mount among a disillusioned fanbase.

Few have escaped criticism this term. Arne Slot has faced relentless scrutiny, sporting director Richard Hughes has come under heavy fire following a record-shattering summer transfer window, and Liverpool's underperforming players have also taken their share of the blame. The only consolation for supporters is that this dreadful season is almost over.

Liverpool now face the daunting task of reversing their fortunes and delivering improved performances and results heading into 2026–27. Achieving that will demand significant changes.

Here are four things Liverpool must do to stem the damage and bounce back next season.

Part Ways With Arne Slot

Ultimately, the responsibility falls on Slot's shoulders. The goodwill he earned after a title-winning debut season has completely evaporated, replaced by bitterness and anger toward the Dutchman over his management of a thoroughly dismal campaign. A fresh start is what Liverpool need to move forward.

Slot has not been helped by recruitment that left his squad fragmented and unbalanced, but the 47-year-old's decision-making has drawn justified criticism. Questionable team selections and substitutions, a failure to get the best out of new arrivals, alarmingly labored displays and an unacceptable tally of 17 defeats across all competitions leave him with little room to defend himself.

Even during last season's success, many suggested Slot was merely the beneficiary of inheriting Jürgen Klopp's well-drilled, ready-made squad. While that assessment is harsh, Slot's inability to stamp his own identity on the team since then has given his critics plenty of ammunition. In truth, Liverpool have been underperforming since spring 2025, and the former Feyenoord manager has done little more than apply a temporary fix to deep-rooted problems.

A managerial change could breathe new life into the Reds, regardless of whether Liverpool's hierarchy is genuinely weighing up that option. Xabi Alonso's availability as a free agent will only fuel speculation about a change in direction, and the former Liverpool midfielder could be the spark needed to lift performances and spirits on Merseyside.

Having struggled across all four competitions and set a string of unwanted records this season, Slot's position looks increasingly unsustainable.

Recruit in Key Positions

Despite Slot's errors throughout the campaign, he has been constrained by last summer's transfer decisions. Liverpool abandoned their long-established approach to break the Premier League transfer record on two occasions, spending just over $600 million on a wave of new signings—few of whom have justified their price tags since joining.

Further surgery will be needed this summer after Liverpool's massive outlay left glaring weaknesses throughout the squad. The center-back position is crying out for reinforcement, even following the January acquisition of Jérémy Jacquet, and an additional defensive midfielder is an absolute necessity at season's end to help shore up a leaky defense.

Wide forwards must also be brought to Anfield, with one needed to serve as Mohamed Salah's long-term successor and at least one more required to address Liverpool's creative shortcomings. Andy Robertson's confirmed departure also means a new left back will need to be recruited to challenge Milos Kerkez for the position.

With other first-team players expected to leave, further investment will be necessary to fill the gaps, though whether Hughes will be the one overseeing another summer window remains uncertain. Either way, Liverpool must be far more disciplined in the transfer market than they were last year.

Sanction Exits for Fringe Players

Following Liverpool's Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Slot acknowledged that players would need to be moved on to generate funds for another rebuild. The Reds offloaded many of their peripheral players last summer to finance their enormous spending, leaving them with fewer sellable assets this time around.

Nevertheless, Liverpool must be ruthless in slimming down their roster. The departures of Salah and Robertson will free up significant wage space—particularly the former, who is currently taking home $543,000 per week. A potential free transfer exit for Ibrahima Konaté could provide the club with even greater financial flexibility.

The likes of Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo should be moved on regardless of who is in the dugout next season. It may also be time for Liverpool to finally cut ties with injury-prone Joe Gomez—though a shortage of homegrown options could compel them to keep the versatile defender.

Despite penning a new deal last August, Cody Gakpo's underwhelming form could make him a candidate for sale as Liverpool look to raise transfer funds, while doubts persist over whether Curtis Jones, who turns 26 next season, will ever truly fulfill his potential.

Rediscover Intensity

During Liverpool's golden era under Klopp, relentless intensity was their hallmark. The German's gegenpressing philosophy was the foundation of a side as hardworking as it was gifted, suffocating opponents at every turn and pouncing ruthlessly when opportunities arose.

Slot's arrival prompted a shift toward a more measured, controlled style, and that transition has made Liverpool more manageable to face. They are regularly outrun and outmuscled by opponents, while a tendency to drop the tempo when holding a lead has cost them numerous points throughout the season.

Whether it is Slot, Alonso or an entirely different figure in the Anfield hot seat next season, Liverpool must reclaim their former identity. Raising their intensity levels is fundamental to a change in fortunes, and summer recruitment must be carried out with that shift firmly in mind.

Liverpool's current style is simply not working. To compete in England and across Europe, they must play with far greater aggression and drive next season.