In his first season, Arne Slot leads FC Liverpool to the championship title. Because he benefits from the work of his predecessor Jürgen Klopp, but also changes details.
His first thoughts were Jürgen Klopp. When Arne Slot stood in the middle of the Liverpool FC in the middle of the FIELD Road, surrounded by euphoric fans on the stands, the Dutchman started his version of the Evergreen “Live Is Life”.
The audience agreed. With that a circle closed. A year ago, Klopp had tuned a corresponding singing on his successor (“Arne Slot, Lalalalala”) during his farewell speech and wanted to give him a warm reception.
Arne Slot gives Mohamed Salah instructions
Slot thanks Klopp: “Has a coach has never done”
“It has never done a trainer beforehand. It definitely helped me,” said Slot on Sunday. “But apart from that, he helped me even more to leave this team to me and this work ethic in the team.”
The footsteps that Klopp left in Liverpool could hardly have been larger. In over eight years on the sidelines, he led the Reds to the Champions League title in 2019 and a year later with the first championship title after 30 years, the very big longing of the fans.
“He knew the club better than I know at the moment. But what I noticed from the first day is that the championship title is the most special trophy we can win,” said Slot. “To create this in the most difficult league in the world, especially at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult, is very special.”
Slot writes history
In his debut season, the 46-year-old Dutch stepped a bit out of the shadow of his predecessor. There were certainly reservations last year when Liverpool announced the commitment of the then Feyenoord Rotterdam coach.
After all, Slot was primarily a blank either internationally, Liverpool is his first wandering station. Now he was the first Dutch master coach in the Premier League.
In addition, Liverpool with the 20th championship title together with Archrival Manchester United is now again English record champions. A great success that makes Liverpool’s disappointments in the Champions League and the FA Cup back into the background this season.
“Replacing Jürgen was a big task. But Arne made it in his own way,” said captain and compatriot Virgil van Dijk.
Klopp delighted the masses with his passionate way. Slot is more considered a sober, somewhat hypothermic contemporary.
“The Cool One” instead of “The Normal One”
“I find the way he did it absolutely phenomenal,” said former Liverpool professional Jamie Redknapp at Sky . “He is a super cool guy. When Mourinho came, he was ‘The Special One’. This type is ‘The Cool One’. It cannot be got out of the socket.”
As is well known, Klopp introduced himself as “The Normal One” in Liverpool. His “heavy metal football” on the lawn was successful, but was also intense and powerful.
A meme is currently viral in which Klopp mutates into a tiger and looks at his balance compared to slots. In 2019, Liverpool himself did not reach the championship title. And in 2022, Klopp with the Reds with 92 points was left behind compared to the dominant Manchester City.
Liverpool benefits from weakening competition
The weakening competition is certainly also thanks to the fact that Slot now makes four game days before the end of “only” 82 points. Especially the interim crash of mancity. And last but not least, the increased slips of pursuers FC Arsenal.
But Liverpool’s success is by no means accidental. Slot built up on Klopp’s work, but chose a more controlled, better dosed approach. But if you want to reduce it to blunt results football at the expense of the spectacle, you don’t do justice to Slots Reds this season.
Last but not least, this showed the title decisive 5-1 against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. One of the protagonists: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian plays the season of his life with 46 goal participations (28 goals, 18 assists) in the Premier League. Salah now has more goal participations (272) in the Premier League as united legend Ryan Giggs (271). Salah, however, needed 335 games less.
Mo Salah shot a selfie in front of the fan curve at the goal celebration
“You can see the numbers. I don’t have to defend that much anymore. The tactics are completely different,” said Salah a secret of success.
Salah: “… then I’ll deliver on the offensive”
And he reported a special conversation with Slot. “I said: ‘If you leave me in peace with the defensive work, I will deliver on the offensive.’ And I’m glad I did it. ” And Salah pushed after: “He listened well – and you can see the numbers.”
In general, the coach is very honest, said Salah: “The Dutch are quite strict, but he made life easier for us.”
For a long time, a farewell to the key player was considered a decided thing at the end of the season. But in April the turn and Salah extended his expiring contract. Just like captain van dijk.
The successful scaffolding of the past few years is preserved, even if the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is no longer to be averted. However, a change will be in the foreseeable future on Slot, which has previously been excluded without major new commitments. It will be shown whether “The Cool One” can also step out of Klopp’s shadow in the long run.