Liverpool head into 2025 in a healthy position under Arne Slot, with Premier League and UEFA Champions League title challenges still going strong.
The Dutch coach has succeeded Jurgen Klopp perfectly at Anfield, with Slot naturally evolving this Liverpool squad into something quite special with the former Feyenoord manager set to bring in his own players in the January transfer window.
One of the main reasons behind Slot’s success has come down to how the 44-year-old coach has managed to take existing Liverpool players and push them to the next level, with some names enjoying new leases on life under their new manager.
Here are three Liverpool players who have thrived under Slot since replacing Klopp at Liverpool.
Ryan Gravenberch
There was only player who could really start off this list, and that’s midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who under Slot has transformed from a bench player at Liverpool to arguably one of the most exciting young players in all of Europe.
Signed last year by Klopp from Bayern Munich, Gravenberch struggled for regular first-team minutes and starts as the Dutch international took his time to adapt to the Premier League, yet this season has seen the former Ajax wonderkid explode under Slot.
Compared to Patrick Vieira by Jamie Carragher, Gravenberch’s performances this season have been nothing short of exceptional, and the 22-year-old midfielder is only going from strength to strength with every game for Liverpool.
Kostas Tsimikas
Few Liverpool fans would have named Kostas Tsimikas as one of their best defenders this season, yet the Greek international has managed just that under Slot and even with the fullback spending quite some time on the treatment table.
The 28-year-old left-back has been brilliant for the Reds this year, with Martin Kelly lauding Tsimikas as a ‘massive threat’ for Liverpool based on his form in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.
Indeed, injuries have limited Tsimikas’ playing time this campaign greatly, yet heading into 2025, the former Olympiakos star will be looking to make the left-back position his own with Andy Robertson’s own form taking a surprise hit under Slot.
Luis Diaz has always shown sparks of quality but never looked like the superstar many Liverpool fans expected the winger to become when he joined from FC Porto back in January of 2022.
However, this season has seen Diaz explode into life under Slot, with the Colombia international on course to enjoy his most productive season yet with Liverpool having made the left-wing position his own.
With Diaz in talks to sign a new Liverpool contract, this season could be the start of something wonderful for the 27-year-old attacker, who under Slot could become the Dutch manager’s version of Sadio Mane in the years to come.
