Liverpool should target 'arrogant' spark who Arne Slot loved at Feyenoord and Erik ten Hag called 'class'

Whilst Arne Slot was steering Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, he had to contend with the drama that was the contracts of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

This season, the Reds boss has two more experienced operators who are coming to the end of their time at Anfield, if pens aren’t put to paper any time soon. Andy Robertson has been linked with a move to Celtic, where it all began for the Scotland captain with Ibrahima Konate on the radars of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. The difference between the two is that Robertson is spending more time on the bench than on the pitch.

How Liverpool could replace Andy Robertson

Recalled against Sunderland, Robertson’s future is still uncertain with Milo’s Kerkez very much the manager’s favourite despite a throwback performance from the veteran against Real Madrid. Slot is looking to the future, which now looks bleak for the Scot. With a desire to prove that he still has a lot to offer, it is unlikely that Robertson will extend his stay at Liverpool to play second fiddle to Kerkez which means that Slot should be on the lookout for a backup.

A controversial option could be for Slot to be reunited with a player he helped to develop and who he was largely credited with playing a key part in seeing them improve to the extent that they earned a move to the Premier League. Out of contract in the summer, the last remaining member of Man United’s “bomb squad” is Tyrell Malacia, a player who Slot worked with at Feyenoord.

What Slot said about Malacia

The only reason Malacia isn’t featuring at United is because of a falling out with Ruben Amorim, he wasn’t the only one, but Slot never had any issues with the Netherlands international, in fact, he praised the character of the out of favour left-back: "When we're behind he is typically the player to try and force the issue, or to ignite a spark with a run or a tackle," then Feyenoord boss Slot told Dutch outlet Bleed Orange.

"[But] I do see him taunt opponents a bit too much. He almost shows too much of the ball, to get them to bite. At times, it's too much. He looks a bit complacent, arrogant even, at times. I talk to him about that." Erik ten Hag signed Malacia after being impressed in an Ajax v Feyenoord Eredivise clash, with a viral clip of him telling then assistant Michael Reiziger to record his name and that “That kid at left-back is class”.

Liverpool have their first choice left-back sorted for the future, with Robertson potentially leaving, they could save a lot of money by signing a player Slot knows and trusts, for free.