Arne Slot drops two clear hints for next season's plans with Liverpool experiment

Liverpool supporters believe they have seen a glimpse of the future after named a much-changed team to face . The Reds have travelled to the south coast to face Brighton on Monday night in the penultimate game of their triumphant campaign and Slot has opted to experiment.

Slot's team have already secured the league title and are therefore looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, when they will try to defend their trophy. The news that is leaving his boyhood club to join on a free transfer has had a predictable reaction.

With Virgil van Dijk and both signing new contracts and Alexander-Arnold leaving, there will be a changing of the guard over the summer transfer window. Alexander-Arnold was booed by some fans after the news broke and has been left on the bench for the Brighton game, with Conor Bradley starting at right-back.

Slot has made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with , leaving Van Dijk on the bench alongside Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz. There are starts for Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, who all have something to prove.

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Chiesa is the biggest surprise, with the Italian earning his first start in the Premier League since joining from last summer. He will play as a No.9 in a possible hint towards next season, given his preferred position on the right wing is occupied by Salah.

That is where there is another hint, too, with Salah given the captain's armband in Van Dijk's absence. Alexander-Arnold is the current Liverpool vice-captain, but with him leaving, the Egyptian could step up to the plate.

"Is that him confirmed to be our vice from next season?" one fan wrote in reply to the team sheet on social media. Another added: "I beg this means he’s gonna be officially vice captain this summer."

There was also a lot of love for Chiesa finally being given a shot at the end of a difficult debut campaign, which has seen him contribute just two goals and one assist in 13 appearances so far. He gets a first start in the league after a meagre five substitute appearances.

"Chiesa starting as our striker life is beautiful," one fan wrote. Another added: "Ah I’m really excited by this game. Szoboszlai playing with better angles on the left hand side. Chiesa playing as the striker. Arne is definitely using this time to experiment and it’s fun to see."

One fan speculated: "Slot may reconsider his decision on Chiesa if he plays well tonight. If he played superbly tonight, hear me out, I wouldn’t even mind playing him as our starting striker IF we had a good back-up (as he is slightly injury prone)."

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