Slot’s Reaction to Wins Over Athletic Club Hints at Growing Identity at Liverpool

Performance shaped by progress

There are pre-season friendlies, and then there are exercises in mood-shaping. Liverpool’s twin victories over Athletic Club were less about scorelines and more about shaping narrative, rhythm and tempo. Two games, seven goals, and an emerging picture of Arne Slot’s imprint on a club still grieving, still recalibrating, still hopeful.

Slot was measured but upbeat in his post-match reflections. “I think in both games we created a lot of chances, scored seven goals, four in the first, three in the second, so that’s very pleasing to see,” he said. The Dutchman appreciated the volume of chances as much as the final tally. “Especially in the second game in the first half, I think we could have scored a few goals more than we did.”

It’s the kind of calculated optimism that already feels like a trademark.

Attack showing early cohesion

Slot was asked if the attacking play excited him ahead of the new season. “Yeah, but we’ve also lost two quality players with Diogo [Jota] and Luis Diaz. But we’ve added with Hugo [Ekitike] definitely a player that’s going to be a very good player for us.”

He nodded to youth too, with Rio Ngumoha continuing to catch the eye. “Rio is showing good things every time in pre-season.” But the attacking structure is not without caveats. Two set-piece concessions in the second game offered a gentle but clear warning.

“That’s not what you want, especially if you play Crystal Palace [on Sunday], who are a team that are very strong on set-pieces,” Slot admitted. “That’s then another thing to work on.”

Still, there was cause for optimism. “Players are fit, worked really hard, played some good football, defended really strong and good, apart from the two set-pieces.”

Creativity reshaped in transition

What Liverpool have lost in some areas, they are trying to recapture in others. The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deep-lying creativity remains a blow, but Slot believes his side have found new ways to invent. “Trent’s crosses and picking out runners was so special. I think Flo [Wirtz] has this quality as well in a totally different position.”

Slot highlighted the additions of Florian Wirtz, Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as signs of forward-thinking recruitment. “You need to make in everything you do the next step because our competitors are not sitting still,” he explained. “They have also made a lot of signings, like we all have done.”

This is not the end of an era, but the start of something that has yet to define itself. Slot is not seeking imitation. He is engineering evolution.

Tracksuit talk keeps it human

And then, to close, a nod to sartorial curiosity. Slot on his pre-season attire: “No, I don’t think so! I think in pre-season last season I wore a tracksuit as well. Normally I will wear different clothes but for today this was the best.”

The clothes may change. The system is still settling. But something is definitely starting to stick.