The Arne Slot era has begun, but what has to happen for the Dutchman to be competitive in the Premier League in his first season at Liverpool?
Eight years of leadership were concluded by Jurgen Klopp with a trophy and Champions League qualification.
Here’s how Slot might expand on that basis to use the legacy of his predecessor:
Start strong and maintain level of play against Man City and Arsenal.
Even if Liverpool’s pursuit of the title continued far into April of last year, Klopp undoubtedly left the team in a strong position. Slot firmly establishes himself as Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0. The calibre of the youthful talent the club is producing was highlighted by a third-place result and a Carabao Cup victory, which can serve as a springboard.
However, it is inevitable that Slot will compete against two extremely formidable rivals in Manchester City and Arsenal. To overcome Slot’s Feyenoord, PSV had an almost flawless Eredivisie campaign, but those are the kinds of expectations he will have to meet in the Premier League.
There hasn’t been much room for mistake in England’s premier league in recent years, so Slot will have to get off to a quick start if he wants to lead Liverpool into another title fight the following year.
The computer in the fixture has been nice. Six of Liverpool’s first seven games are likely to be wins. Manchester United away on September 1st will be an interesting preseason test, but Slot needs to be well-positioned and well ahead of the game when Liverpool plays Chelsea and Arsenal back-to-back in the second half of October.
Surpass the important head-to-heads
Liverpool held Arsenal to a draw at Anfield last season and went unblemished against champions Man City. However, winning against the top two can be a deciding factor when it comes to the ultimate standings.
Liverpool would greatly benefit psychologically from winning these important head-to-head matches, but City’s relentless play in the second half of the season more than made up for their loss at Arsenal.
Their last league victory over Arsenal was in March 2022. The last time they defeated City with maximum points was in October 2022.
Matchweek 9’s trip to Arsenal is a crucial early test for Slot. but also a fantastic chance. An opportunity to achieve a dramatic outcome that would enthuse the players, validate his leadership, and cast doubt on their title competitors.
The safe futures of important players.
If Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah are at the top of their game, Liverpool’s prospects of competing on the same level as City and Arsenal will be increased. However, the contracts of those Liverpool players, who have all played significant roles in the Klopp era, expire in the summer of 2016.
The futures of three important players in the Liverpool team are Slot’s first priority, even though the finer points of the contracts may be worked out by new sports director Richard Hughes and chief executive of football Michael Edwards.
Although it may seem unimaginable to Liverpool supporters to lose any of those three, Slot needs to weigh in on this matter.
Salah, 32, may be the target of a significant offer from Saudi Arabia once more. Would this be the right time to profit from the Egyptian considering that his form has just declined?
Van Dijk, who turned 33 this summer, declared he will “think carefully” about his club and international future following the Netherlands’ elimination from the Euros. What would it take for him to feel renewed?
In the end, Slot’s primary responsibility in this situation would be to persuade these elite players that, with him in command, the future is bright and it is worthwhile to embark on the journey—even if, as in the cases of Salah and Van Dijk, it may mean playing on less favourable terms than what they are now playing on.
Solve the striking issue.
In the last third, Slot could be able to make the largest improvement to this Liverpool team. Their poor season finale severely hindered them.
Darwin Nunez is frequently used as a scapegoat when discussing this subject, and it is undeniable that last season, out of forwards with at least ten clear-cut chances, he had the lowest big-chance conversion rate. Of his 33 major openings, he missed 27.
What is Slot’s return on Liverpool’s £85 million investment?
But, Liverpool has a larger finishing issue given that Luis Diaz (12th) and Salah (sixth) both rate highly for significant opportunities lost from the previous campaign.
Liverpool underperformed last season, scoring 86 goals against their expected 89.3, despite having the greatest Expected Goals (xG) total in the Premier League.
On the other hand, 14 goals was more than what Arsenal and Man City’s xG numbers indicated they should have scored. Their innovativeness had a significant impact.
Aim for a top defensive midfield player.
Even though we’ve already spoken about how Liverpool can get better with their present squad, they haven’t added anyone since Slot arrived, so it seems like they need to strengthen their defensive midfield in the summer market.
Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister split the holding role responsibilities last season, but a new signing is needed because Slot frequently uses a double pivot in that area of the park and there are doubts about Endo’s long-term viability for Liverpool.
This would allow Mac Allister to play in a No. 10 position more like he did at Brighton, but it may also give Liverpool’s defensive more stability—they did, after all, concede goals in 23 games during the previous season.
Energise the Liverpool supporters
Possibly the most significant – and intangible – goal for Slot is to inspire Liverpool supporters in a manner akin to that of Klopp.
It is not expected of Slot to emulate Klopp. There was something special and unusual about the bond between the German and the Kop. But throughout this period of change, Slot will have to persuade the club’s supporters that the direction he is leading it in is the best way to achieve success.
Of course, there will be hiccups along the way. And in order for Slot and his team to succeed, they will need the support of the Liverpool supporters and the renowned Anfield environment.
Big-name contract extensions, notable additions, and a goal-heavy early lead would encourage those supporters to think Liverpool can succeed and contend for the championship under Slot and have them chanting his name, as Klopp pleaded with them.
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