Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher doesn’t believe manager Arne Slot should be given a grace period to establish himself at the club.

Previous head coaches, including Jurgen Klopp, have been given the leeway to plan for the long-term but, speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher believes Slot has no excuses with the squad at his disposal and he should be challenging for titles straight away:

“The idea of Liverpool having a year off and letting the manager settle in is something I don’t agree with. We did that when I played, whenever a manager came in it was a five-year plan.”

“For me, this doesn’t happen at other clubs who have had success like Chelsea, Manchester United, or Manchester City – you’ve got a new manager and, of course, you have to give him time to adapt, but I want us to challenge on all fronts, we’re Liverpool. We have a realistic chance of winning the Champions League, and that’s the pressure of managing Liverpool.”

Slot needs to be given time

Although Carragher is right to suggest that the squad is very capable, it is far from being complete. The club has lost players from last season and no one has been brought in to replace them.

Slot needs at least two (perhaps three) new signings to be competitive at the top of the table, with a new No.6, a centre-back and (potentially) another forward being recruited. It remains to be seen how many additions he will actually get.

A strong start is key for Liverpool

When establishing a new style of play, there are likely to be teething problems so getting results early on can help paper over the cracks.

With the Reds playing newly-promoted Ipswich Town on the opening day, it does present an opportunity for Slot to put down a marker. Of course, it could also be a potential banana skin, and a shock defeat would place early pressure on the new manager. Fans will have their fingers crossed that their team can start with a win.

Find out who is in Liverpool’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here