As Mohamed Salah burst into tears following Liverpool's Champions League exit, Arne Slot ventured towards a dejected Darwin Nunez, placing his arm around him in consolation.
For all of his comments about the Uruguayan’s performances for the club in recent weeks, Slot knew that a night of such raw emotion wasn’t the time to reignite the narrative.
It was a night in which all of Liverpool’s forwards failed, albeit against a resolute Paris Saint Germain side who defined their credentials as contenders upon their triumph at Anfield.
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With talisman Salah coming up short against left-back Nuno Mendes, he was let down by his teammates who may have cost the Egyptian his final chance at the coveted Ballon d’Or.
Most Reds will have no qualms in the manner of defeat on Tuesday night, but PSG revealed a glaring issue that Liverpool lack a proven goal scorer that isn’t Salah.
While this prolific season may suggest otherwise, Salah, like all athletes, is a human being incapable of maintaining his remarkable goalscoring form for 365 days of the year.
The onus must fall on Liverpool’s other forwards and as some of these players approach the final two years of their contract, Slot will have some key decisions to make in the summer.
Cody Gakpo
Since Slot's appointment, Gakpo has been one of Liverpool's most improved players, cementing his place in the starting XI.
Playing in his preferred position out on the left wing, the Dutchman’s directness in front of goal has been a refreshing sight for Liverpool fans, who have grown accustomed to his trademark ‘cut-in’ with his right foot.
Gakpo was in a rich vein of form before his untimely injury in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park last month, boasting seven goals and two assists in ten games.
With 16 goals in all competitions, it matches his record last season despite having played 14 games less.
While the numbers seem tame, a return to fitness, as well as a full pre-season in the summer ought to bring out the best from a player who can truly excel under fellow Dutchman Slot.
Luis Diaz
Upon his arrival in January 2022, the Colombian’s infectious flare and tenacity made him a valuable addition to Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple chasers.
However, for a variety of reasons, Liverpool’s No. 7 has been unable to hit the same heights ever since.
Six goals in his first five league games this season evidently served as a false dawn for Diaz, who eventually lost his starting place to Gakpo.
While there is no denying his spectacular work rate and brilliance in carrying the ball into the final third, it is far too often contrasted with his lack of potency in front of goal.
Already in his prime years at the age of 28 and with only 13 goals this season, Liverpool should either cash in on Diaz or convince the Colombian to settle for a squad role.
Darwin Nunez
A major concern for this Liverpool team will be their lack of a consistent striker, unfortunately placing the spotlight on the chaotic Darwin Nunez.
While his penalty miss in the shootout against PSG could have been construed as the final straw for his underwhelming career at Anfield, there have been many hints that it has been over long before that.
In spite of his brace away at Brentford, as well as his heroics against Southampton, Nunez is yet to channel his positive attributes across a consistent run of games.
The Uruguayan was brought on against PSG to act as a focal point for the attack and to stretch the defensive line of Luis Enrique’s side but it came to no end.
The striker’s confidence was at an all-time low when played through towards the edge of the box by Luis Diaz, only for Nunez to forfeit the opportunity for fear of being offside.
In spite of his work off the ball, his poor decision-making and inability to read the game has restricted Nunez from emulating the feats of modern-day Liverpool greats Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez.
Just eight starts in the league is indicative of how little Slot trusts his No. 9, favoring Diaz up front and Anfield should prepare to part ways with a player whose name they’ve grown accustomed to singing for nearly three years.
Diogo Jota
Though he has been Arne Slot’s first-choice striker, Diogo Jota’s tendency to fade throughout the game has frustrated many Liverpool fans.
Jota offers effective linkup play but if his name isn’t on the scoresheet, even the most devout Reds would struggle to recollect instances in which he has positively impacted the game.
While he fashions himself as somewhat of a goal-poacher at times, his persistent injury record has kept him from becoming a mainstay at Liverpool.
Over each of the last three seasons, Jota has sustained at least one injury that has forced him to miss around two months of football, with his calf injury in 2022 keeping him out for almost four months.
When fit, Jota is the Reds’ most clinical forward but he does not possess the raw athleticism of Darwin Nunez, nor does he have Roberto Firmino’s flair and tactical awareness.
He too, does not seem to be a long-term fit as Slot’s No. 9 and it’s very possible that the Dutchman has already started scouring the transfer market for his main man.
Could Alexander Isak be the face of the Arne Slot era?
Ahead of the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, Liverpool’s head coach was full of praise for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, calling him an “unbelievable threat.”
He also compared his lightning-quick speed to that of the forwards in PSG’s squad, who troubled his defenders across both legs.
Isak has netted 19 times for Newcastle in the Premier League this season and is currently averaging a goal every 1.7 games in all competitions.
The Swede has also been subject to interest from Arsenal, who are also in the market for a striker this summer and with three years remaining on his contract, Eddie Howe will want his talisman to further his commitment to his project on Tyneside.
One thing for certain is that if Newcastle were forced to part ways with Isak, it would likely be for a British record transfer fee.
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