Salah's statement and Liverpool's four decisions in January.

A tumultuous evening at Anfield ended in a 3-3 draw with Leeds United, but the bigger shock came from the press conference: Mohamed Salah publicly criticized manager Arne Slot and expressed his dissatisfaction with his playing role. From that moment, the Egyptian striker's future became uncertain, and Liverpool were forced to prepare for a crucial January.

Four urgent actions

1. Mohamed Salah's future: the first hurdle.

This is the biggest dilemma of the January transfer window. Salah's statements targeting manager Arne Slot and the club have sparked internal tension and attracted attention from other teams, particularly Saudi Arabian clubs. Salah's potential departure opens up two scenarios: either Liverpool clarifies their position to retain him, or they prepare for a parting and immediately activate a replacement plan. Whichever option is chosen, a decision needs to be made soon to avoid prolonged uncertainty that could affect the dressing room and on-field performance.

2. Marc Guehi and the challenge of balancing the defense.

Liverpool have long been monitoring Marc Guehi and remain interested in the Crystal Palace centre-back. The failed summer transfer leaves the problem of finding a quality backup for Ibrahima Konate unresolved. The addition of Guehi would provide Slots with a reliable rotation option, easing the workload on key players ahead of the demanding second half of the season and mitigating the errors seen in the draw against Leeds. Tactically, a solid centre-back would allow Liverpool to push forward in attack while maintaining their transitional structure when losing possession.

3. New striker: firepower for a scenario without Salah.

Despite signing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitz in the summer, Liverpool still lack a striker capable of sharing the attacking burden with Salah. With the Egyptian star potentially leaving Anfield, the need for a forward reinforcement has become urgent. The club has shown interest in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, but the January transfer window allows them to broaden their options. Operationally, a striker who can approach the goal in various ways and attack behind defenders would help Liverpool maintain their attacking depth, reducing their reliance on a single source of goals.

4. Adjusting tactics and personnel.

Liverpool's personnel quality isn't the only issue; the way the game is run under Arne Slot also needs updating. The challenge is to reduce reliance on a single individual for decision-making. Slot could consider using players like Florian Wirtz, Federico Chiesa, or Isak in a new formation to diversify the attacking options, increase the chances created from different positions, and improve control of transitions.

Tactical perspective: Diversification instead of dependence

The 3-3 draw with Leeds showed that Liverpool need to optimize both transition phases. Conversely, reducing the output role for a single individual will help the lines operate more effectively: the midfield must be ready to surge forward to fill the gaps between the lines, the wingers must actively switch positions to stretch the opponent's defensive structure, and the central striker needs to participate in link-up play instead of just waiting for the final pass. When an attacking structure has more dangerous touch points, the team will be less predictable and control the tempo of the game better.

Competitive impact: January 2025 is a crucial window.

The January 2025 transfer window promises to shape the remainder of the season. Liverpool need to definitively resolve Salah's future while strengthening key areas to pursue their targets. From defense with a target like Marc Guehi, to attack with a top-class striker, and finally, a tactical framework less reliant on individual players – every piece must be completed quickly.

Rivals in the title race like Manchester City and Arsenal aren't waiting. Any hesitation could cost Liverpool dearly. Acting early, clearly, and decisively – that's the only way for the team to maintain its competitive edge and get the season back on track.