Error code: %{errorCode}

Soccer

Michael Owen shares biggest concern facing new Liverpool boss Arne Slot

Ash Rose
Michael Owen shares biggest concern facing new Liverpool boss Arne SlotGetty Images
The Dutchman has replaced Jurgen Klopp as manager.

Arne Slot will arrive at Anfield this summer with a number of objectives as he looks to put his stamp on the club after replacing Jurgen Klopp. 

Liverpool finished in third place last season when the title challenge failed in the final weeks of the season, and it's Slot's job now to keep the Mersysiders as championship contenders. 

However, he must also sort out the future of the club's key players, with speculation over Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk's transfer and contract situations. 

Speaking exclusively to DAZN, thanks to AceOdds, Michael Owen shared his concern over his former club's biggest stars and said he was worried they would struggle to replace them.

"My worry is, those absolutely unique players that are just the difference makers in the biggest of big games, they are the ones that I'm thinking, ‘oh, who's going to replace Mo Salah whenever the time is? Who's going to replace Virgil Van Dijk?’ Alisson is another one.

"There’s certain players that are just exceptional and just world class and they're literally one of the best in the world in that position. And without being disrespectful if any other player - you could say Trent Alexander-Arnold is another player that's a bit like that, like so you unique but with all due respect, any other player, if they left Liverpool, you'd think, 'Well, okay, it's a bit sad, but you can definitely replace them. You can definitely get another Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunez or Curtis Jones or, whoever it might be.' You can find those players out there. 

"They're really, really good players. You can find them. You can't replace Virgil van Dijk. You can't replace Mo Salah. You simply can't. And that's Liverpool's biggest challenge now. It is to go and try to find the next 20-22-year-old who is an absolute difference maker who can stay in the team for another 10 years, pin you up, and build a team around. 

"So that's my biggest worry. Not for the here and now, but like in two- or three years' time, I think Liverpool is going to be really - just like they did when they got Alisson and got Van Dijk.

"'We need these, this type of player.' They just went bang and just spent the big money to do it. I think that's going to happen again in the next year or two."

Live on DAZN: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez on June 29.  Click here for details.

Watch on YouTube