When Arne Slot was announced as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool, many wondered how the Dutchman would fare in the most competitive league in the world. After a successful spell at Feyenoord where he led the club to Eredivisie success, Slot was identified as the man to lead Liverpool into a new era, and things have got off to a fantastic start.
Tactical Shift
One of the first notable changes seen when Slot took charge of Liverpool in a competitive game was tactical. Klopp has become renowned for having his team press intensely, whereas it’s a more measured approach from his successor. There’s been a shift from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, and this has helped provide better balance, allowing the team to dominate possession in the middle of the park while still pressing efficiently.
Arne Slot plays a 4-2-3-1, which is more like a 4-4-2 when defending.
– Two centre backs.
– Two wing backs.
– Two holding midfielders.
– Two inside forwards.
– Two forwards (SS and CF).The wing backs provide the width and the inside forwards drop into a 4-4-2 when defending. https://t.co/JFmsDul1T8 pic.twitter.com/Ts8B52EqKe
— T J A (@TJAndrews93) April 23, 2024
Slot introducing a double-pivot also means there’s more protection for Liverpool’s defence, which immediately addressed the vulnerabilities that plagued them last season. It’s subtle changes that have been made, but Premier League betting odds see Liverpool as firm favourites every game because the team is winning week after week and keeping clean sheets after these tweaks.
Player Revitalisation
When a new manager enters the building, the slate is always wiped clean for players in the squad, and there’s a sort of revitalisation process that occurs. It’s not a negative towards Klopp, but Slot has been able to quickly get his team and individuals playing at the top of their games.
Liverpool, under Klopp and now Slot, are renowned for their attacking prowess. They have players at the top of the pitch that can hurt any team in world football, but the likes of Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota especially are looking revitalised. All three are already among the goals and assists, and their form is only going to improve as the season goes on.
Early Success
Replacing Klopp was and remains a tough ask for any manager. But Slot came into the building and managed to hit the ground running. They’ve won every game in all competitions, bar the one they lost to Nottingham Forest. It’s nine wins from ten in all comps, six clean sheets, twenty-three scored, and just four conceded.
Slot’s hitting the ground running also calmed any nerves anyone had when he was announced as the new Liverpool manager. He’s come in, the team are winning, and everyone is in full support because of what they’re seeing play out on the pitch. If Slot had arrived and the start wasn’t great, the pressure would have mounted quickly.
Right now, everything is going great for Slot and Liverpool. They were seen as contenders for a good while in the Premier League last season but fell away. This time around, and at the time of writing, they’re contenders again, but they almost seem a much more balanced side. Could this be precisely what Liverpool needed to win their second title?
