The spotlight on Liverpool's dressing room culture is a sign of a changing club, as senior players move on and standards come under scrutiny. The players had more days off last season when they were Premier League champions, but Arne Slot disagrees with the suggestion that a once-great team is losing its identity.
Slot Defends Club Culture
Liverpool set the standards last season, but the Premier League table shows those standards have slipped on the pitch, with 18 defeats in all competitions. Yet attention has turned to off-pitch standards. Mohamed Salah expressed concerns about the dressing room bond and mentality, urging players to arrive early for gym sessions to encourage others.
For Slot, the culture is not a problem, nor will it be next season when Andy Robertson and Salah depart. Slot argued there are enough cultural architects in the squad to weather the loss of two influential figures. "What Mo is saying is that standards are really important for a football club," Slot said. "I cannot agree more with him. I did not hear him say that the standards are not okay now. I'm not worried that the standards will be lower next season than they were this season, last season or the season before."
Standards in Good Place
Slot believes the standards are in a good place and that younger players learn from examples set by Salah and others. "I think they are in a good place right now," he said. "I think it also makes sense that younger players... usually get the example of players like Mo and others for them to understand what it takes to play every three days at this level. I see that our younger players have improved in this already. I am completely convinced that we have enough players next season, plus the ones we will sign, to put the standards exactly where they are needed."
Slot also noted that standards are not only set in the gym. The declining standard of Salah's performance, from 29 league goals last season to seven this, is a reason for Liverpool's decline. Age and injuries have caught up with some players. Salah sounded nostalgic in interviews, reflecting on joining a club where the culture was set by Jordan Henderson and James Milner. Now, three of the four elder statesmen may leave, with Slot confirming Virgil van Dijk will stay but not mentioning Alisson. Questions also surround Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones.
Leaders Emerging
Dominik Szoboszlai may become vice-captain, and others must step up. Slot does not believe he needs to import players to set standards. Robertson's replacement is likely to be Kostas Tsimikas, returning from loan. Slot sees culture setters in the current group. "I'm not saying that we need to sign them," he said. "I am saying that we have them already. Senior players are not the only ones who set the standards at a club. If I look at Paris Saint-Germain: Desire Doue is 20, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is 25. Can they set standards for another generation? It is not age related."
Slot acknowledged that part of the culture must come from him. "Players can help, but it is definitely also that the manager sets standards as well," he said. His view is that the culture club will still have the right culture.
