Liverpool can now axe six stars as sobering Chelsea loss proves Arne Slot right

will leave London vindicated after against Chelsea. His refusal to make widespread changes to his team each week as the Reds hunted a first title in five years has been proven correct.

Despite mild criticism from some fans, Slot's starting XIs have largely remained the same. In his first season in English football, the Dutchman avoided the injury crises that swept the squads of his rivals. You could largely guess a Liverpool team: Alisson in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson either side of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. The excellent Ryan Gravenberch partners Alexis Mac Allister in midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai ahead.

Slot has only wavered when deciding which of Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota or Luis Diaz to take the two positions in attack alongside Mohamed Salah.

So when the Liverpool head coach made widespread changes ahead of the 3-1 loss against Chelsea, he would have expected several players to prove him wrong. Instead, there were at least six whose futures at Anfield now look unclear.

Jarell Quansah played his way out of Slot's plans after only 45 minutes of football this season. He was hauled off and criticised for not winning enough duels on the opening day of the season, a 2-0 victory over Ipswich. Against Chelsea, the academy graduate partnered Van Dijk and was poor.

His own goal capped a display in which the 22-year-old looked uncomfortable in those duels that Slot had been desperate for him to start winning nine months ago. Konate would not have made the sloppy challenge on Moises Caicedo for which Quansah conceded a late penalty.

An upgrade at left-back seems set to be signed at left-back. Andy Robertson will remain on Merseyside but Kostas Tsimikas' future looks blurrier. The Greek defender struggled against the dual threat of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.

In midfield, Harvey Elliott needs game time to kickstart his career. It may surprise some onlookers to learn that this was his first Premier League start of the season. The 22-year-old will need to drop down from the top-flight to play regularly next season.

Endo Wataru, Elliott's midfield partner, could also depart if there are additions in the middle of the pitch over the summer. A favourite from the bench of Jurgen Klopp to see out matches, Slot has preferred more forward-thinking midfielders in his team.

That neither Darwin Nunez nor Federico Chiesa started even when Slot was liberal with his changes indicated that both have futures away from Anfield. Nunez's close-range header which bounced well wide against Chelsea typified his Liverpool career. Chiesa is a rare poor signing, having arrived last summer and played only 41 minutes in the Premier League.

Liverpool will strengthen their attack in the summer, pushing Nunez and Chiesa further down the pecking order. Even with the Premier League title wrapped up in style, Liverpool's defeat against Chelsea shows there could be major changes made to Slot's squad for next season.