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Liverpool’s relative stroll towards a 20th title carries a heavy warning signal to the rivals who must now attempt to knock the Premier League crown off their heads next season.

The seamless transition of Arne Slot into Jurgen Klopp’s team, which many thought was impossible, was achieved without much significant improvement of the squad he had inherited.

This demonstrates both the clever strategy he employed to such successful effect and his inheritance from Klopp.

Liverpool signed Valencia’s Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in a deal worth up to £29m last summer in readiness for next season, while the only outfield player to arrive was Juventus winger Federico Chiesa in a £10m move, the Italian proving no more than a peripheral figure.

The platform is still there, but Liverpool will now be in full swing this summer, with their recruitment team well-versed in preparation for heavyweight reinforcements under sporting director Richard Hughes.

Add from a position of strength, as was the old saying at Liverpool, and you can’t get much stronger than the title of Premier League champion.

Alisson Becker, a 32-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper, has a strong reputation as the world’s best. Barring something unforeseen, he will be first choice again next season, with Mamardashvili providing strong competition.

Even Virgil van Dijk’s signing of a new contract may not prevent additions at centre-back, which raises questions in the defense, especially at full-back positions.

With rumors rife that Bournemouth’s left-back Milos Kerkez will succeed him, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to leave Real Madrid for Real Madrid on a free transfer, while Andrew Robertson is 31.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: “Van Dijk is staying and will be the mainstay, so whether there is an addition depends on Arne Slot’s view on Joe]Gomez] and Jarell Quansah. Because they have only played a small number of minutes this year, I think he wants to add some more time.

Because Virgil will be 34, they will want to find someone who can play a lot of games. If Van Dijk gets injured there is no-one there with anywhere near his presence.

“I’ve heard there are rumors about Dean Huijsen at Bournemouth, a very young talent, but I’d like to see someone develop a little bit further down the line.”

You’ll want to think of Micky van de Ven at Spurs, Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace, and Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton, but the names that come to mind won’t be easy, maybe impossible, to get.

“They are used to the Premier League and all different. Van de Ven has a quick-paced pace, Guehi has physicality, even though he isn’t the biggest, real calmness, and leadership. Branthwaite is a real presence, even though she lacks athleticism.

” If you could guarantee Gomez would be fit you might not use up your budget there. I believe center-half will be looked at because of Van Dijk’s longevity at his age and Ibrahima Konate’s as well.

Liverpool’s top defensive choice is usually left-back, but Conor Bradley’s arrival, age 21, has created what appears to be the ideal right-back replacement for Alexander-Arnold.

Murphy said:” In an ideal world you might want to bring people in for both full-back positions, but if you are looking at a central defender and two full-backs, then you’re going to enter into the forward positions and maybe one extra in midfield, you won’t have the finance to cover all bases.

Murphy adds: “Kerkez from Bournemouth is a really good option. He defends one-on-one, has good feet, and is quick. He is only 21 years old and has a lot of energy. It fits the criteria of Liverpool’s recruitment team measured by ability to progress and become more of an asset. That’s probably going to happen, in my opinion.

The left position would be my top priority if I had to choose full-back. This is not any slight on Andy Robertson, just in terms of strong competition and a future first choice.

Andy hasn’t been at his best in some challenging games where he’s made some mistakes, but I don’t believe he’s capable of doing so.

Liverpool’s top priority for the summer was finding a “# six,” but it was frustrated when Real Sociedad’s Spain Euro 2024 winner Martin Zubimendi rejected a £52 million offer.

Slot pulled off the masterstroke of using fellow Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch in the position to stunning effect.

Murphy thinks this is no longer a problem because it is so stunning.

Murphy said, “I believe there might be a change of tack on this.” If you’re going to go out and spend good money on a holding midfielder he’s going to want to play, and instead of Gravenberch. He has undoubtedly been the Premier League’s best midfielder this season in terms of holding midfield.

Don’t fix something if it’s not broken, you say. I’d be surprised to see him bring someone in there.

Since joining Liverpool in a deal worth up to $85 million from Benfica, Darwin Nunez has spent three full seasons there, but he hasn’t shown that he can deliver the high marksman they need.

The 25-year-old has been pushed to the margins under Slot, who has also made public criticisms of his attitude.

The supporters of Liverpool have always admired Nunez, who works in the “Captain Chaos” style and effort, but it seems like his time is running out.

Murphy once said, “It’s time for a fresh start in attack.” I think Darwin has had a lot of chances. Slot obviously doesn’t like him if you just simplify what we’ve seen in terms of his contribution and minutes played.

Luis Diaz has occasionally been used as a winger before him as a striker, according to Slot. That tells you everything you need to know.

“It would surprise me if Darwin continued.” For him, I believe the writing is on the wall.

According to Murphy, “I think Alexander Isak is probably unrealistic.” And I’m not sure I’d be in that conversation given the fees being discussed. I’m not talking about his quality, just that when you pay such a big part of your budget on one player you almost want a guarantee they will be fit.

“I’m surprised we haven’t heard a lot more about Jonathan David’s free agency at Lille. He appears to have Premier League qualities when you watch him play. He’s strong, quick, a decent finisher and a scoring record of one in two is exactly what you want. He is only 25 years old and has been doing that with Lille for four seasons.

And Mohammed Kudus, a West Ham United player, has another suggestion that is more pertinent.

Manchester City’s collapse from the sky-high standards of four successive Premier League titles and Arsenal’s faltering challenge left the door open for Liverpool.

And Murphy anticipates a strong response from Liverpool’s closest rivals next season despite the daunting prospect of adding more power to a title-winning side.

He added, “This will have been a real jolt and the kick up the backside to the competitors,” adding that they probably didn’t expect Liverpool to do this with their squad.

” I suspect Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola would have been sitting there last summer thinking ‘ I’m glad Liverpool haven’t spent any money’.

Given his success with Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren, Stephen Robinson would seem like a natural choice for the new Hearts head coach, but there are still other possible candidates. (The Scotsman)

The bookmakers’ favorite to replace Hearts’ head coach is Falkirk manager John McGlynn, ahead of Robbie Neilson, a former Tynecastle team boss, and former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham. (The Herald)

John McGlynn, former Hearts team boss, and Robbie Neilson, both of whom might be considered candidates for the Tynecastle job after using the same criteria that Jamestown Analytics might use to select a shortlist, are just two of the seven names on the shortlist. (Daily Record)

If Ruud van Nistelrooy is replaced, Russell Martin will be Leicester City’s first choice, but the 39-year-old former Scotland defender has also been shortlisted by the Scottish Premiership club. (Sunday)

Nathaniel Nwosu, who won a Nigerian cap in November 2022 but currently plays for Tayport in the Midlands League, will join Aberdeen on trial this week after spending last week with St Johnstone, Stoke City, St Mirren, Dunfermline Athletic, and Dumbarton all keeping tabs on him. (The Herald)

The Chevron Championship’s final leaderboard

-7 M Saigo (Jpn) (won play-off), HJ Kim (Kor), R Yin (Chn), A Jutanugarn (Tha), L Duncan (US), -5 J Young Ko (Kor), S Schmelzel (US), H Ryu (Kor)

others were screened.

-4 C Ciganda (Spa), -2 N Korda (US), L Thompson (US), + 1 G Hall (Eng), + 5 L Ko (NZ), + 8 L Maguire (Ire)

The Chevron Championship was Mao Saigo’s first major title of her career, coming through a five-way play-off.

Along with American Lindy Duncan, Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, Hyo-Joo Kim of South Korea, and Yin Ruoning of China, she recorded a final round 74 and won the play-off spot.

The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas saw the biggest play-off of all five players, resulting in the highest-ever seven under-par scorecard.

Jutanugarn, a two-time major champion, had the lead most of the way to victory, but she carded a bogey after her ball only moved a little bit when she nearly missed it with her third shot.

Kim, Yin, and Jutanugarn par on the first play-off hole, which was the par-5 18th, and Duncan suffered a bogey.

Saigo then bagged her first victory in the United States by birdie and sank a five-foot putt to claim the victory.

Saigo remarked, “I was so laser focused, nervous, and really in the zone.” The ball in front of me was all I could think of. Nothing else was up for my eyes.

I shot and it went in, but I tried to calm myself down and did as I was feeling nervous.

She continued, “It was my dream to earn this major,” adding through a translator.

“This is my first victory in this tournament.” I’m delighted that my dream came true, and I’m so happy for it.

When asked what her future plans are, Saigo responded, “I still have four more majors to go, and I want to shoot for number one in the world.” The final four majors will require me to do my best.

Duncan birdied the 18th hole to advance to the play-off, finishing alongside Saigo and trying to win a first major.

Laura Deas, a former skeleton bronze medallist at the Winter Olympics, has announced her retirement.

The 36-year-old Wrexham-born competitor’s career highlight was at the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea, where she placed third, tying her with gold medalist and close friend Lizzy Yarnold.

A British duo’s podium at a Winter Games was the first to be displayed on the same podium.

Deas missed the 2023-24 season due to her pregnancy, finishing 19th at her next Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Games.

Deas re-entered the sport after giving birth to her daughter, but she has since decided to stop competing after the 2022-23 campaign has ended.

Her final race was a World Cup final in February 2023, where she won a silver medal, which she describes as “a lovely sign off.”

Deas told BBC Radio Wiltshire, “I wanted to at least play one more season immediately after the Beijing Olympics because the Beijing Games hadn’t gone so well,” and he didn’t want to leave on that note.

“So I was immediately aware that I had at least one more season in me.”

However, it seemed to me to be a rather hypothetical situation. I didn’t really have a clear end point in mind, which I believe was partly due to the fact that I didn’t want to race in the first place because I knew it would be my last experience on ice.

“Because the problem with our sport is really that it’s impossible to just play it recreationally,” she said.

She has fond memories of Sigulda, Latvia, where she placed second in her final race of the World Cup.

Deas said, “I did win a medal, which was a lovely end to my career.”

What a nice way to do it if this is my last time crossing the ice, I thought.

That’s the thing, after all, isn’t it? Many athletes choose to move on and do other things because of other factors. Sometimes it’s just performance, sometimes it’s just injury.

“It was a really nice race as well, because my family and friends were there as well, and the atmosphere was lovely.

After the Olympic disappointment, it was the end of a season that had actually been very healing for everyone, to be able to return to the World Cup tour and experience some success, and to kind of show everyone what we could do again.