Zenden: Liverpool Are Paying the Price for Last Season's Brilliance

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Liverpool , Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Bolo Zenden has reflected on a turbulent season at Anfield and what it means for Arne Slot heading into the summer.

The Dutch icon has assessed the fallout from the Man Utd defeat, weighed up the futures of Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai , and named Desire Doue as his dream signing to replace Mohamed Salah .

Zenden has also given his verdict on Micky van de Ven as a potential Anfield recruit, explained his hesitancy over Rio Ngumoha starting regularly, and assessed whether Julian Alvarez is the striker Liverpool need.

Season Review

Reaction: Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool

This game sums up the season for Liverpool . They didn't start the game well, they got back into it, and then to still lose it just before the end is obviously devastating for the Liverpool fans and the Liverpool players. I think if they got a draw, they would have done something right. It's never easy going to the Theatre of Dreams, especially now that Michael Carrick seems to have it all under control.

In all fairness to them, they've had a very difficult spell over the last few years, but it seems they're flying towards another Champions League qualification, a rather solid third position. There's a certain belief, and I think, as you mentioned with Liverpool this season, it's been too many ups and downs. I think the consistency wasn't there, and in the end, obviously, you pay the price for that.

Although, saying that, if you look at where they've come from and what they've done, if they still qualify for the Champions League , obviously, finishing fifth or third is a difference. But I think for the club itself, the main target would be finishing in those positions where you can play Champions League again and then start from scratch.

Arne Slot

Arne Slot and Liverpool are paying the price a bit for winning the league last year. I mean, the expectations have been so high, and rightly so, because what they did last year was amazing. And to repeat that is obviously difficult.

If you then look at the players that will be leaving in the summer, and the players that already left last summer, for example, the likes of Luis Diaz , who's doing amazing at Bayern , and Trent Alexander-Arnold , obviously going to Real Madrid , those are big, big losses for the team.

Of course, they've spent quite some money in the summer to make sure that the gap is filled. But it's never easy to come in, and then if you look at the players that did come in, they haven't really performed like the players that were there the year before. They also need some time to adapt and get used to the Premier League , the pace, the things that are expected at a club like Liverpool . So all in all, it's not been easy. I think Slot has got the benefit of the doubt. If they do qualify for the Champions League , then obviously I think it's more than normal that he stays on and needs to get off to a good start next year. Otherwise, it will be difficult for him.

Next Liverpool Manager

Are Calls For Alonso or Gerrard Justified?

One name mentioned for the Liverpool job, of course, is Steven Gerrard , who was linked in the summer. Xabi Alonso was released from his job at Real Madrid , which opens up an opportunity to maybe come in at Liverpool when the time is right. But I think Arne Slot will have the benefit of the doubt based on what he did last year. One thing we have to look at is the pressure coming from outside, from the media and the fans. But as long as the manager still has the dressing room under control. Some might question if he does. Looking at the Mohamed Salah incident, I think that's a slightly different issue, to be honest.

I don't think it has much to do with the way they play or how he manages the whole squad. It's a specific situation. Whether or not he signs a new deal is not really down to the manager, but more to the intentions of the club itself. With the likes of Andy Robertson potentially leaving at the end of the season, there are going to be some changes, and changes never make things easier. But I believe it was Sir Alex Ferguson who once said, never change a winning team; you have to keep everybody on their toes and keep changing to be able to keep performing at a certain level.

Now, as I said, there will be some changes again, and I hope the players who have come in will use this year to gain experience and perform even better next year. I'm sure that the likes of Florian Wirtz , who was one of the best players in Germany , will be able to perform at that level for Liverpool as well. We've seen the problems due to injuries. For example, Dominik Szoboszlai has been playing at right back, which is obviously not his best position. So there have been quite a few changes.

The other question that will come up is that even the likes of Virgil van Dijk haven't played at their best this season and have been struggling with form or making mistakes. The link he had with Ibrahima Konate was strong last year, but this year it seems like both were more focused on their own form than capable of helping the player next to them. So, to be honest, it hasn't been easy for the whole squad. It's still a massive job for Arne Slot to get fixed in the summer. They need to finish in the top five and then get it sorted in the summer.

Strikers

Do Liverpool Still Need A “Reliable” Striker?

I was thinking of all the problems that Liverpool have had this year, and obviously the striker position has been one as well. If you have Hugo Ekitike, who got injured, he'll be out long-term with an Achilles injury. Isak has not had a season where he's been pain-free or injury-free. So that has not been easy.

Also, the problem you have is that if you bring in another striker, as soon as these two are fully fit, then what do you do? You end up with maybe too many strikers. I mean, Isak came in in the summer. He also hasn't featured that much. I think he's been important on a few occasions, but it's not been enough. And then you had Cody Gakpo playing sometimes as a striker, who I think is better off playing from the left side. So Slot had to shuffle a lot due to all the things that happened this season.

Alvarez To Anfield?

It's always good to have versatile players, and Julian Alvarez is one of them. It gives you a lot of opportunities. If you talk about Alvarez , what he's shown at Atletico is obviously amazing. Not just in the league, but also in the Champions League . He would be an amazing addition.

He's a striker that always makes it difficult for the opponent. He's fast, has good technique, and has a great shot. But I don't think he'll come for cheap. That's probably going to be a big ask if they want to persuade him to come over. I don't know how long he still has on his contract, but I'm sure that they will have to pay quite some money for that. Then maybe you have three strikers each worth 90 million.

Transfer Window

The Next Fabinho

A Fabinho replacement? I'm not sure if that's exactly what they need because, if you look at the midfield that Liverpool have with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch , Dominik Szoboszlai , and Alexis Mac Allister , you can't say that they don't have a good midfield.

If you put those three in the middle, I'm sure that they can play and do well. And for anybody to come in and put themselves in between those three, you have to be a big name. I think they're top players, and at their best levels are all guaranteed starters next season.

Frimpong Problem

It's obviously difficult to fill the boots of Trent , given his qualities. I think they're also not the same type of players. I think Trent was more a defender than an attacker, whereas Jeremie Frimpong is more an attacker than a fullback. But Frimpong is not a right winger. At Leverkusen, he played the whole width as more of a wingback. And it obviously depends on how you're going to use him and how you're going to play with that system. I remember also with the likes of Trent , who was playing in behind Mohamed Salah , they had good momentum going.

They really complemented each other quite well, and Trent had a fantastic early cross. That's different with Frimpong . He's a different type of player. He's one that plays a little bit more on the wing, and by wing I mean on the sideline. He's not the type that delivers the early cross. And that means that if he plays on the wide side, then maybe Salah has to play a bit more from the inside. Sometimes there's a reason why things don't really go the way they should be, or the way they went before. Yeah, of course, I think Frimpong also has to step it up a bit next season if he wants to be a regular within Arne Slot 's team.

Replacing Salah

A player I like a lot and would be my dream signing for Liverpool is Desire Doué . Having said that, I think it would be really hard to persuade him to leave PSG . Doué is doing really, really well for his age and has a certain profile that would obviously fit Liverpool . But, as I said, he's at a great club, and they're winning most of the trophies that they can.

For him to leave Paris , it will be a difficult one, but he's definitely a player that I like to watch. He's one of the players that plays on that wing and week in, week out shows his qualities. It would be a dream signing.

Should Ngumoha Be Starting?

It's amazing what Rio Ngumoha has done at such a young age. I'm sure that Arne Slot is a manager who is used to working with youngsters, giving them opportunities and also managing them carefully, not breaking them down. It would be very easy to put someone in week in, week out and let them play the full 90 minutes. But I think with young players, you have to manage them in a certain way, and I think Slot is the manager who is able to do so, bringing out the best in a player like Rio .

It's been great to watch. As you said, I think the fans really relate to him and take him into their hearts. It's always nice when a young player comes onto the big scene and shows his qualities. Look at Michael Owen , for example, or Robbie Fowler , who was obviously there at a young age as well and scoring so many goals. It's special that a player with that quality comes through the academy.

Keeping Szoboszlai Or Madrid Bound?

I can see Dominik Szoboszlai as a future Liverpool captain. At the moment, if you look at the dressing room, there are already two or three captains, and I don't know if Szoboszlai is already one of them. But it's most likely that when a change comes, someone will step up and be the next. He's a player who dominates in the middle; he's influential, and he always works really hard for the team. He scores his goals and is a very, very important player for the team. You can be a captain if you lead by example. Why not?

But there were all the links to Real Madrid, which Liverpool fans, of course, didn't like, but it doesn't mean that you don't work for your team or that you don't want to win trophies and be the best you can be for the team that you're at.

Robertson Departure

My question is, why Tottenham ? Is it Andy Robertson himself who put that news out? Is it just a rumour that came about? I mean, if they go down, Robertson will probably never go that way. I think that's a question we should ask Robertson . What would be his preference, and what would be his dream? I think he's 32; I think you still want to have, and you still can have, a good spell. But you want to make the right decision and be at a club where you feel that you're appreciated, and you feel that you can still bring the best out of yourself.

Because I also read something about Celtic being a possibility, which would be special. It all depends on the family situation, things that you would like to do, and those are only questions that he himself can answer. But of course, I think that it would be nice to still see Robertson playing somewhere in Europe at a high level.

van de Ven

Micky van de Ven is at a good age. He has experience, he's tall, he's fast, he can be feisty, and he's versatile. You could play him as a left centre-back, on the left-hand side of a back three, or more as a full-back who covers the whole left wing. Those are probably his stronger features. If you look at Tottenham as a whole, they've been struggling and have conceded too many goals. Obviously, Micky Van de Ven has been involved in some of those goals. Now, many times, you need your team and your colleagues to be able to get the best out of yourself.

If the whole squad isn't really performing, it's difficult to stand out and stay away from a form crisis, if you might say so. Even if you look at players, for example, what we said is that even at Liverpool at times, it hasn't looked that good because players weren't able to help their teammates out, as they were too busy with themselves.

I suppose that is what happened at times. Maybe sometimes a change of scenery, a change of air, new fresh air can also bring out new energy and positiveness within the player. I still think Van de Ven is one of the players that has already shown he is capable of being one of the better players in the Premier League . He would be a great addition to Liverpool .

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