Leading the Premier League table by eight points, about to discover its Champions League last-16 opponent having topped the group phase, and already having booked its place in the Carabao Cup final, things are going well for Liverpool. But that won't stop Arne Slot from wanting even more.
It is in that context that Slot's comments about Darwin Nunez can be interpreted. "I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, and that's scored for us in the home game against Villa," Slot said during his pre-match press conference.
"I would prefer him to score but the word 'chance' says it all — it's a chance, so it's not 100 per cent sure that the ball goes in. Players miss chances, that I can accept.
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"But what was a bit harder for me to accept [was] his behaviour after that chance, and with behaviour I mean I think it got too much in his head where he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his [backside] off and makes sure he helps the team.
"I think he was too disappointed after missing that chance and maybe — we will never know, we will never find out — that's why he was just a fraction short [in] the moment afterwards. I always truly believe that it's always the best to have Wataru Endo's mindset and what I mean with that is that for the whole season, he just keeps on going, keeps on going, and keeps on going.
"Whenever we need him, he's ready. That is very difficult, there are not many players that can do this. It's not about the chance for me, it's more about the 20 minutes afterwards where I want to talk to him about than about him missing a chance."
It has become pretty clear this season that Nunez is not exactly what Slot is looking for at Liverpool. He has started just seven times in the Premier League and when he has come on, more often than not, he hasn't made much impact — for every Brentford, there has been more than one Aston Villa.
While the Liverpool boss was keen not to blast Nunez for missing another big chance, Slot also made it clear that what came after that wasn't acceptable. Nunez was very poor when he came on against Wolves at the weekend and followed that up with a similarly ineffective substitute showing in which his confidence was knocked and he got in his own head.
Three years into his Liverpool career, that shouldn't be happening. And while at one stage there was a school of thought that suggested he might one day click into gear and find some consistency, that doesn't seem quite as likely now.
With Diogo Jota's injuries limiting his impact this season and Luis Diaz considerably better down the left flank than in the center, signing a new number nine in the summer — even if Mohamed Salah stays — is nothing short of a necessity. It is a position in which it should definitely be possible to find an upgrade, and it isn't the only one.
At left-back, Andy Robertson has not hit the heights for much of this season. And at 30, he is not likely to get back to his previous levels, especially considering much of his game was based around energy and athleticism.
Kostas Tsimikas has been used sparingly — even this week, when Robertson could start a fourth match in 12 days if he is named in the starting XI against Manchester City — and like in the striking department, it would be possible to make some refurbishments. Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez is one appealing name who has been mentioned.
Lastly, but certainly not least in terms of importance, Liverpool could really do with an alternative to Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutchman has played almost every meaningful minute this season but at times he has looked exhausted. With Wataru Endo not offering anything like the same skillset at the base of the midfield, someone more stylistically suitable is a must.
Liverpool remains in an excellent position to win at least one trophy this season and if Slot wins the league title at the first time of asking, that would be a monumental achievement. But soccer clubs cannot stand still and preparations ahead of the summer have already long begun.
While Liverpool was never likely to find the right players in the winter market and would not have signed anyone for the short term, by the time the season ends and the summer comes, the landscape will have changed. There will be players available to fit into each position where an upgrade is required — and no matter how the next few weeks go, there could be a busy few months ahead for sporting director Richard Hughes.
