Liverpool squad ratings: Who shone and struggled in Slot’s triumphant season?

Liverpool have secured the Premier League title and, while focus has naturally fallen on Arne Slot for delivering the ultimate prize in his first season, the Dutchman has been quick to hand the credit to his squad.

So, how have his players performed? We have cast our eye over Slot’s regulars and given them a mark out of 10 based on their displays across the season. In the interests of having a fair sample size, the cut-off point for our ratings was 10 appearances in all competitions.

Goalkeepers

Alisson 8/10

Every triumphant team needs a reliable goalkeeper, and once again the evergreen Alisson stepped up. The moment he returned against Girona after a lengthy injury lay-off and immediately reminded us all of his class with a man-of-the-match display was a measure of his talent. And his performance away at PSG was just out of this world.

Brilliant at Bournemouth, on hand to protect a vital point at home against Fulham with a stoppage-time save to deny Adama Traore and exceptional in the recent win over West Ham, Alisson turned up when it mattered and remained a calming presence.

Caoimhin Kelleher 7/10

The beauty of having a back-up goalkeeper good enough to be the No 1 is that there’s never a concern when he plays. For a second season running, Kelleher represented Liverpool in all four competitions and hardly put a foot wrong.

Yes, he made an error in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle United  but there was more than enough credit in the bank from previous performances for that to be excused. He’s a sharp shot-stopper who showed comfort in possession too. He’ll be missed if he leaves this summer.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold 7/10

Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool on the back of a season where he contributed, rather than starred, to a wonderful finish. The stand-out moments that have made the marauding right-back such blockbuster entertainment over the years were rare, perhaps because of so many injury setbacks, the last of which came in the Champions League exit to PSG.

Granted, he bagged a valuable equaliser at Aston Villa in February when the title race was still tight, and came off the bench to score a vital winner at Leicester last week. Perhaps we’ll only appreciate just how good he is when he is not around. But aside from the occasional defence-splitting pass, he simply did his job to a high standard, without the glitz of previous years.

Conor Bradley 7/10

If 2024-25 told us anything it’s that the Northern Ireland captain loves a slide tackle. Kylian Mbappe felt the brute force of Bradley in the Champions League group stage when Real Madrid might have been wondering whether they were signing the correct right-back.

When he was fit and available, Bradley showed that he can fill the big boots left by Alexander-Arnold, but staying out of the treatment room is now essential because he missed spells of the season with three different injuries. Until he shows durability, that will be a concern.

Ibrahima Konate 8/10

The bubbly, all-action centre-back turned into a fans’ favourite this season and demonstrated pace, power and increased durability. Injuries have always been the issue with Konate, but apart from missing December with a knee problem he progressed through the rest of the campaign without much bother.

This was a season where he proved that he should be considered as one of the best defenders in the world. There was the odd moment of madness — and for some reason he never looked entirely comfortable playing against Wolverhampton Wanderers — but the good far outweighed the bad.

Virgil van Dijk 9.5/10

So calm he could play in his slippers. Only looked troubled on a handful of occasions — especially in the first half at Arsenal — but otherwise this was a dominant season where he started every Premier League game. Van Dijk, a once-in-a-lifetime skipper, set the standard early in pre-season where he played a leading role in welcoming the new head coach.

He adjusted his game to become a more progressive build-up player without sacrificing any of his defensive solidity, and during a tumultuous period off the pitch with his contract situation he handled himself impeccably. Without him, Liverpool would not be the same.

Virgil van Dijk has been imperious this season (Carl Recine / Getty Images)

Joe Gomez 7/10

In an eventful season that started with a bid from Newcastle United and ended with injury, perhaps it is comforting for Gomez to know that his stellar contributions were so vital early in the campaign. True, he wanted a greater number of minutes and a part of him will feel more frustration than joy, but there was a lot to like about his performances, mainly off the bench when Liverpool needed to see out a game. There aren’t many back-up defenders as useful as he is.

Jarell Quansah 6/10

Got off to the worst possible start with an under-par performance at Ipswich and lost serious momentum in the opening months. The half-time hooking at Portman Road knocked his confidence and, while he slowly grew into the season, this campaign was less memorable than his remarkable breakthrough 2023-24. He did a capable job in filling in for one of the best defensive pairings in Europe when they needed a rest, and produced a win-saving intervention in the home game against Wolves in February, but he will be eager to secure more regular game-time next season.

Andy Robertson 7/10

Perhaps it’s time to put a little respect on his name. This is a player who has contributed at the top level for eight seasons and, although his form dipped in the first half of the campaign, he still started in the vast majority of games and played a major role in the title win. While finding a long-term replacement for Robertson is a priority, it’s worth remembering how important the Scot can still be, especially as he has formed a strong bond with Van Dijk on the left side of defence.

Kostos Tsimikas 6/10

Used more often in the opening months of the season and initially looked like a player who would benefit from the change of manager. Clearly enjoyed getting forward and joining in with the attacks but started to see his minutes reduced as the season progressed. Liverpool’s search for a new left-back means his future remains uncertain.

Midfielders

Ryan Gravenberch 9/10

It’s funny that the 22-year-old Dutchman continues to reiterate that his best position is at No 8, not No 6 where he has been deployed for most of the season. Not that he’s complaining — why would he be? This was a hugely impressive season for Gravenberch, a player who looked so lost in the previous campaign that you wondered where he would fit in under Slot, especially with the Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi lined up as the top summer target.

Yet time moves quickly in football, and when Gravenberch got his chance he excelled, offering the kind of press-resistant qualities on the ball and the defensive nous off it to thrive under Slot. Having Johnny Heitinga, his former coach at Ajax, on board helped.

Alexis Mac Allister 9/10

OK, so he should never have been tasked with blocking Dan Burn in the Carabao Cup final as part of Slot’s zonal marking plan, but that aside Mac Allister has developed into Liverpool’s own Luka Modric; a player who picks the right passes, sets the tempo and controls the game, while also scoring the odd spectacular goal (none more so than the one which put Liverpool 2-1 up against Tottenham on Sunday).

When he’s not around, or not on his game (rarely in either instance), it’s clear there’s something missing from Liverpool’s play. It feels too basic to say that he’s just a wonderful footballer, so perhaps some of these stats help explain: only three midfielders have made more tackles than him this season (95), whileno player in any position has started more open play sequences which have ended in a goal (13). He is also second in the Premier League for creating secondary chances (passing to the player who then creates a chance, with 44).

Alexis Mac Allister makes Liverpool tick in midfield (Carl Recine / Getty Images)

Dominik Szoboszlai 8/10

Prime N’Golo Kante used to hold the title as the man most equipped to do the combined running of two midfielders. but Szoboszlai is now pushing him close. This was an impressive season for the Hungarian but not for goals, assists and other creative metrics. Instead he just ran and ran and ran, which is why staff at the club have been so impressed.

We didn’t hear much from him because he tends to avoid post-match interviews, but every time he played he was there, setting the tempo, harassing opponents and working tirelessly to fit into Slot’s intense way of working.

Curtis Jones 8/10

Still the most under-rated player in the Liverpool team and despite a regular run of minutes, either as a starter or finisher, he would have felt frustrated to not feature more often. Jones is able to blend the ability to galvanise a team while also acting as a calming presence. His passing accuracy is always at a high level and among the best of all midfielders in the Premier League.

The “other Scouser in the team”, alongside Alexander-Arnold, his reaction to Abdoulaye Doucoure in the Merseyside derby will be remembered forever by Liverpool fans. The penalty miss against PSG less so.

Wataru Endo 7/10

For a fifth-choice midfielder he was a manager’s dream. Never complained when he was named on the bench (he hasn’t started a Premier League game) and jumped across different positions to cover when required, including in central defence. Not once did Liverpool lose a Premier League game when he was introduced as a substitute, which in itself is some achievement. He’ll be a cherished starter somewhere in the future, for sure.

Harvey Elliott 6/10

For all Elliott put on a brave face when interrogated about his lack of playing time, inside he must have been seething. If there were prizes for the most hard done by in the squad this season then he is surely the winner: having missed the start of the season through injury, he then found himself behind arguably the world’s best player in Mohamed Salah. There was the odd moment of magic off the bench, especially in cup competitions, but ultimately he was just never given the run of games he needed.

Federico Chiesa 5/10

When the Italian was signed (Liverpool’s only incoming transfer last summer, lest we forget), he felt like a risk worth taking. Nine months on and the £10million deal now looks like an error. What to make of Chiesa, a player who has ghosted through the season without so much of a mention? Even his neat goal in the Carabao Cup final — one of only two across the whole season — was forgotten because it came so late into a game that Liverpool lost. This has got a loan back to Italy written all over it.

Attackers

Luis Diaz 7/10

Remains in an awkward position with his contract set to expire in two years. Liverpool have a decision to make over whether to stick or twist with the Colombian, whose recent performances have hardly helped his cause. Despite starting the season with a bang, scoring six goals in his first six games, he has regressed to his usual ratio of one-in-every-three matches. Yet he remains an attacking threat and creative force. Slot likes his attitude and there were plenty of promising signs in the opening half of the season — but is that enough?

Diogo Jota 6/10

Sad to say, but aside from a goal against Everton, the longer the season went on, the harder it became watching Jota lead the line. Nine goals across all competitions is not good enough for a Liverpool centre-forward. Like Diaz, Jota’s season started well with eight goals in his first 19 games, and a stack of impressive, selfless performances to go with them.

Have injuries taken their toll? Jota’s fitness record remains patchy, and it is now almost baked in that the Portuguese will miss two or three months of the season. At the peak of his powers Jota is a handful and the team’s best finisher, but those moments are no longer frequent enough. At 28, Liverpool must decide whether he has a long-term future at the club.

Diogo Jota has had injury concerns once again (Geoffroy van der Hasselt / AFP via Getty Images)

Darwin Nunez 5/10

Even Nunez’s most ardent followers — and he does have them — now have their doubts over whether he will ever fulfil his potential at Anfield. Incredibly Nunez failed to score in 37 of the 43 games he played in, which is shocking for a striker. He missed easy chances (and important ones, too) and the crucial penalty in the Champions League shootout defeat to PSG. More damningly, Slot questioned his work-rate and commitment at one stage in February. He is still only 25, but if Liverpool receive a substantial offer this summer, they will surely take it.

Cody Gakpo 8/10

A hugely successful season as Slot moved him back to his more natural position on the left side of attack, which clearly worked in his favour. Gakpo was unstoppable between the end of October and the start of February as his blistering form coincided with Liverpool’s most impressive period of the season.

He was also the one attacker regularly easing the burden on the prolific Salah during that period. Missing a handful of games heading into March was disruptive, and damaged Liverpool’s chances of success in the Champions League and Carabao Cup final, but there’s no doubt the future is exciting for Gakpo at Liverpool.

Mo Salah 9.5/10

It’s fitting to save the best until last as this was another record-breaking season for Anfield’s Egyptian King. As other forwards suffered with injury and a drop in form, Salah maintained an utterly ruthless streak in front of goal in what was a major factor in the title race, despite the ongoing speculation over his future. So often Salah changed the game with a goal or assist as he proved to be the ultimate “moment” player.

He has been responsible for 47.9 per cent of Liverpool’s overall goals tally in all competitions, either through scoring himself or with assists. The club’s comparatively early Champions League exit may have irreparably damaged his hopes of winning the Ballon d’Or, which remains a burning ambition, but his status as one of the world’s most influential forwards is not in doubt.

(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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