Liverpool icon sends Arne Slot brutal 'failure' warning despite strong start

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot could hardly have dreamed of a better start at Anfield, having tasted victory in all but one game so far. His side sits atop the Premier League, but one club legend has nonetheless sounded a warning about failure.

A big test undoubtedly waits on the other side of the international break. Liverpool faces Chelsea this weekend, and that's just the start of a relentless series of fixtures against high-caliber opposition.

First and foremost, we should learn whether Slot was right to play down the need for reinforcements in the summer. Squad depth is about to be tested, and it will be interesting to see whether he feels the need to rotate much for the domestic cups.

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Naturally, the Premier League and the Champions League will be the priorities. But at the same time, silverware can never be neglected at a club like Liverpool.

And club great Mark Lawrenson has warned Slot that he will be assessed by the trophies he wins. The former defender believes the Dutchman's debut campaign will only be considered a success if he wins something:

"Arne Slot will be aiming at all of the silverware available to Liverpool this season,” Lawrenson told Instant Casino. "It’s always been the case at the club, you aim for everything and if you win one, that’s great, and if any more silverware is picked up then fantastic.

"He’s got the team and the squad to do it this season. He’s inherited a world class group of players from Jurgen Klopp with a winning mentality.

“If Liverpool don’t pick anything up this season I’d deem that a failure for them and Slot in his opening season as manager," Lawrenson continued. "As well as finishing out of the top three in the league, but I don’t see that happening. I’d be surprised if they didn’t make top three though, as those three teams look to be quite far ahead of everyone else."

The game against Chelsea should help give an indication of just how far ahead of the chasing pack Liverpool really is, with the Blues currently fourth and no doubt hoping to challenge the top three. But while cementing a place among the main trio of title contenders would be a solid foundation for Slot, he will have certainly set his sights on the top prizes.

Whether he can get them is something we should know a bit more about by Christmas time. For now, though, it's been so far, so good.

Liverpool.com says: Trophies are always going to be the aim at Liverpool. It's probably a bit harsh to say that Slot has failed if he does not deliver one, and nobody will be berating him if he goes clear of 90 points and gets denied by Manchester City, but Lawrenson's words are a timely reminder not to neglect any avenue to silverware.

Klopp famously said that his last Carabao Cup triumph, fuelled by the club's young stars, was his most special trophy. Try telling anybody at Wembley that day that it was a "tinpot" competition.

Hopefully, Slot has the squad and the acumen to challenge on all fronts. The Liverpool owners and most of the fans will probably be happy as long as they see clear signs of progress come the end of the campaign, but a trophy would certainly be the best way to truly announce the start of a new era.