Arne Slot has won 11 of his first 12 Liverpool matches as the club seamlessly move on from the Jurgen Klopp era. Ahead of the Dutchman’s biggest test yet, here’s why Slot has been such an instant hit at Anfield.
RETURN TO THE ‘LIVERPOOL WAY
The most obvious thing watching Liverpool without the ball this season compared to last is they are more narrow and compact.
When they defend as a team from this narrower position, they are harder to play through — a big part of why they have only conceded three goals in eight Premier League games so far.
They do still press high early in games but it’s not like the Klopp days when it was more frequent through the 90 minutes and the full-backs pushed on. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson certainly aren’t as gung-ho now.
Defensively, they are more rigid than during the Klopp era. Jurgen had two No8s whereas Slot opts for two holders and you rarely see a Liverpool player isolated one-on-one. It may mean they aren’t as thrilling in attack but they are more secure at the back.
Klopp’s formation was 4-3-3 whereas Slot’s is a more deliberate 4-2-3-1. We saw against Chelsea and Leipzig last week they are happy to be patient and measured in the build-up, especially when ahead.
Of course, they still choose moments to play to the front players directly and quickly. Being able to do both makes Liverpool very dangerous. During the glory days of the 1980s, Liverpool gained success by controlling games. It wasn’t full throttle all the time.
TRENT THE DEFENDER
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball is no secret but this season we’ve seen another side to his game. He’s operated as a more orthodox right back and his defensive capabilities haven’t received the credit they deserve. There will be times when Liverpool have good possession and he can still step into midfield but generally he is now in a better starting position to defend. You lose some advantages in the final third but you can’t argue with the results so far.
Alexander-Arnold looks fitter and stronger than ever and it’s clear there has been some coaching on his defending.
We know he is out of contract in the summer. If he does go to Real Madrid, it’ll be for a new challenge, not unhappiness over his new role, though he won’t have enjoyed being substituted seven times this season.
GRAVENBERCH LIKE A NEW SIGNING
There was criticism Liverpool didn’t spend big in the summer — but giving Ryan Gravenberch a new role as a holding midfielder has felt like a new signing.
Gravenberch deserves credit but so does Slot for making it work when he could have settled upon a more natural destroyer like Wataru Endo. Gravenberch has been key to Liverpool keeping more possession. With Alexis Mac Allister or Curtis Jones alongside him, it’s easier to play through the lines.
We knew the Dutchman was technically very good but it’s the other side, smelling danger when the opposition breaks, that has exceeded expectations for me.
A more measured approach from Liverpool also relies on the mentality of their players. Management of games has been impressive.
Once in front, they have resisted the temptation to take risks going for more goals and have controlled the tempo. Having Gravenberch’s extra insurance has benefited Dominik Szoboszlai whose athleticism makes him a good fit for the No10 role further forward. I believe Slot will start the Hungarian and Gravenberch at the Emirates. The final midfield place is between Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, who had his best Liverpool game against Chelsea last weekend.
NO KLOPP WATCHING OVER
It’s helpful for Slot that Klopp hasn’t been at an Anfield game so the camera pans to him after a bad result, like the home defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Like all top managers, Slot is single-minded enough to believe in his methods so I don’t think Klopp’s presence would have affected him directly. But we saw from the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford, it just creates an unnecessary distraction for others to seize upon.
SETTLED LINE-UP
There was a significant moment when Ibrahima Konate replaced Jarell Quansah at half-time in the opening game of the season at Ipswich.
Since then, Slot has stuck with the same back four and the partnership between Konate and Virgil van Dijk has given Liverpool the foundations to build an excellent start.
It was important in his early weeks to allow the understanding between players to develop.
Slot also gave a front three of Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz time to gel.
As the season progresses, Slot will rotate. We’ve already seen him start that process with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez getting game time. Diaz was rested against Chelsea after playing for Colombia. Nonetheless, it was shrewd of the manager to begin with a clearly defined first XI and that has accelerated the team’s success.
