Arne Slot has won eleven of his first twelve games against Liverpool as the club seamlessly leaves the Jurgen Klopp era behind them. Ahead of the Dutchman’s biggest test yet, here’s why Slot has been such an instant hit at Anfield.
BACK TO THE ‘LIVERPOOL WAY’
The most obvious thing about seeing Liverpool without the ball this season, compared to last season, is that they are narrower and more compact.
If they defend as a team from this closer position, they are more difficult to play through. That’s a large part of the reason they’ve only conceded three goals in eight Premier League games so far.
They still put the pressure on early in games, but it’s not like the Klopp days, when it happened more often throughout the 90 minutes and the full-backs pressed on. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are certainly not as enthusiastic right now.
Arne Slot has had a near-perfect start as Liverpool boss since taking over last summer
The Reds topped the Premier League this weekend, with 21 points from eight games
Defensively they are stiffer than during the Klopp era. Jurgen had two No8s, while Slot opts for two holders and you rarely see a Liverpool player isolated one-on-one. It could mean that they are not as exciting in attack, but that they are safer at the back.
Klopp’s formation was 4-3-3, while Slot’s is a more deliberate 4-2-3-1. We saw against Chelsea and Leipzig last week that they are happy to be patient and measure themselves in the build-up, especially when they are up front.
Of course, they still choose moments to play directly and quickly against the leaders. The fact that both are possible makes Liverpool very dangerous. During the glory days of the 1980s, Liverpool achieved success by controlling matches. 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 a different side to his game. He operates as a more orthodox right-back and his defensive abilities have not received the credit they deserve. There will be times when Liverpool have good possession and he can still get into midfield, but overall he is now in a better position to defend. You lose some advantages in the final third, but you can’t dispute the results so far.
Alexander-Arnold looks fitter and stronger than ever and it is clear there has been some coaching in his defence.
We know his contract expires this summer. If he goes to Real Madrid it will be for a new challenge and not for dissatisfaction with his new role, although he will not have enjoyed having been substituted seven times this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has put in a series of excellent defensive performances this season
GRAVENBERCH AS A NEW SIGNAL
There was criticism that Liverpool didn’t spend a lot of money this summer, but giving Ryan Gravenberch a new role as a midfielder felt like a new signing.
Gravenberch deserves credit, but so does Slot for making it work when he could have chosen a more natural destroyer like Wataru Endo. Gravenberch has ensured that Liverpool have retained more ball possession. With Alexis Mac Allister or Curtis Jones next to him it is easier to play through the lines.
We knew that the Dutchman was technically very good, but it is the other side, which smells danger when the opposition breaks, that has exceeded expectations for me.
A more measured approach from Liverpool also depends on the mentality of their players. The game management was impressive.
Once in front, they have resisted the temptation to take risks and score more goals, and have controlled the pace. Dominik Szoboszlai has benefited from the extra assurance of Gravenberch, whose athleticism makes him suitable for the No.10 role further down the line. I believe that Slot de Hungarian and Gravenberch will start at the Emirates. The final spot in midfield is between Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, who played his best Liverpool game against Chelsea last weekend.
Ryan Gravenberch has seized his opportunity to have two hands at the base of the Liverpool midfield
Jurgen Klopp’s appearance at Liverpool matches has not been a distraction for the Dutchman
NO KNOCK TO WAIT
Helpfully for Slot, Klopp hasn’t been to a match at Anfield, so the camera turns to him after a bad result, such as the home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Like all top managers, Slot is determined enough to believe in his methods, so I don’t think Klopp’s presence would have directly affected him. But we saw from the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford that it only creates unnecessary distractions for others to take advantage of.
FIXED LINE-UP
There was a big 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 foundation for an excellent start.
In his first weeks it was important to grow the understanding between players.
This season, Slot has chosen to select a fairly consistent line-up in the Premier League and Champions League
Finally, it 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 playing time. Diaz was rested against Chelsea after playing for Colombia. Nevertheless, it was smart of the manager to start with a clearly defined first XI and that has accelerated the team’s success.