Although it does not mean that Jurgen Klopp is not missed at Anfield, Arne Slot has definitely made the goodbye less painful. The Dutch manager has had an immaculate start in the Premier League, with the Reds currently topping the league.
After such a solid beginning to the campaign, Liverpool are expected to be in the title race in England this season. The football betting odds see them among the top contenders for the championship. And considering the poor form and injury plague at Manchester City, this might be the best season to end the Citizens’ dominance in the Premier League.
Liverpool might not be considered the favourites for the league title just yet, but Arne Slot’s start is a strong claim on their part. In fact, the 46-year-old technician has matched a 15-year-old record, initially set by the legendary Carlo Ancelotti.
This article will go into more detail about the record and discuss Slot’s prospects at Anfield.
Slot Matches Ancelotti’s Record
Arne Slot led the Reds to nine wins, one draw and one loss in his first 11 Premier League matches, resulting in 28 points. His latest victory was the 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.
This became the best start of the season for a new manager in the Premier League since Carlo Ancelotti’s spell with Chelsea 15 years ago. Back in 2009, the Italian manager also got nine wins in the first 11 games. Curiously, Ancelotti lost the other two games, so the Blues had 27 points after 11 matches, which makes Slot’s record even better.
Finally, it should be said that Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2009/10, edging Manchester United by one single point, 86 to 85. Hopefully, the new Liverpool gaffer can match Ancelotti in this regard as well and bring the 20th league title to Anfield.
The Secret Behind Slot’s Great Start at Liverpool
The Premier League has seen many great coaches in the last decade, but neither Pep Guardiola nor Jurgen Klopp were perfect from the get-go. Thus, the first key to Slot’s early success has to be the team he inherited from the previous manager. A group of players with a well-defined style, disciplined and motivated.
Second, we cannot ignore the tweaks that the Dutch manager added on the Reds tactics. Arne has given more priority to control and structured build-up. While this may not be the rock’n’roll football the Kop got used to in the recent years, it has definitely been a recipe for success. Under the new manager, Liverpool has become more compact and solid defensively and has adopted a more balanced playstyle overall.
The third important aspect is that Slot turned the dial down on the pressing. While it undoubtedly remains an essential component of the Reds’ game, the pressing is not as relentless and total as it was under Klopp. This gives the players more room to breathe during individual matches, allowing them to focus more on the game-defining moments, and could require less rotations in the long run.
To sum it up, Slot has managed to build upon the solid foundation left behind by Klopp, the best manager Liverpool had in the 21st century. The Dutchman has incorporated a few changes that have made the team only stronger, and the fans can be optimistic about the future.
Expectations of Arne Slot’s First Season in England
Back when Liverpool only announced Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor, barely anybody knew who the Dutch coach was. The fact that he had led Feyenoord to two trophies in three years did not impress many. However, the Merseyside club did their homework and understood that Slot was an underappreciated asset and a coach with great potential.
Now, Slot’s Liverpool sits atop the Premier League and UEFA Champions League tables. The team is fighting for all four available trophies and has solid chances to win at least one of them.
Of course, it is too early to predict a win in the Premier League or UEFA Champions League. Slot may have had the perfect start, but these competitions are decided by who reaches spring in the best form. Nevertheless, a safe bet would be a top four finish in the Premier League and reaching the UCL semi-finals. Any achievement beyond that should be celebrated as a massive success.
