Arne Slot’s opening months as Liverpool head coach have been action-packed and entertaining. Three games, three wins, three clean sheets and seven goals scored are the highlight figures — but that only tells half the story.
The Dutchman hasn’t had the easiest of starts as he’s welcomed players back from international tournaments late and missed out on his top transfer target, all while trying to fill the big boots of Jurgen Klopp.
But Slot has gone about his business with composure and class. This is the story of his first 100 days in charge and how he’s built on the strong foundations already in place.
Tactics
“Kill them with passes,” shouted Slot during a training session in Philadelphia on Liverpool’s pre-season tour and those words were expected to be a sign of things to come.
It was difficult to predict exactly what Slotball would look like until the season started. There was a hint of slow build-up play and an over-reliance on passing between the back line against Ipswich Town, but only in brief moments. The ability to switch play, occasionally go long and direct, or break lines with razor-sharp central play soon showed there was plenty more to his style.
Each game so far has had tactical variations and the most notable change during the 3-0 win over Manchester United was how direct Liverpool played in some attacking moments.
In short, Slot’s plan is to be solid at the back — an area of success so far as they haven’t conceded a goal — and then always a threat in attacking areas. Slot encourages his forward players to get into specific spaces and then allows a degree of flexibility; freestyling, even, and the evergreen Mohamed Salah is one player to benefit.
Salah has been in blistering form so far this season (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
In training, multiple patterns of play are worked on and some drills have seen a big emphasis on one-twos and overlaps before drilling crosses low across the six-yard box.
The key to any successful Slot side is developing an unpredictable streak. If the head coach gets his tactics right, opponents should not be able to work out a formation, largely because it changes so often in games. The closest system to describe Liverpool’s setup is a 4-2-3-1, changing to 4-2-4 when the team presses the opposition.
Slot has been helped by having a front three that are firing. Salah’s smile could not be wider as he’s started the season on fire with three goals and three assists in three games. Luis Diaz looks like he may have found a clinical edge and Diogo Jota’s quality and intelligence knit everything together at the top of the pitch.
Substitutions
It took Slot just half a match to show his ruthless streak. After a disappointing collective first half against Ipswich, he replaced Jarell Quansah with Ibrahima Konate. It was not an individual issue, but a collective one of his team not winning enough duels. It sent an instant message that Slot is not scared to make changes if players aren’t meeting the required standards.
Otherwise, Slot has been able to make substitutions from a position of strength. We are yet to see how the 45-year-old will use his bench when Liverpool are a goal behind or searching for a late winner.
Quansah was taken off against Ipswich (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
He has primarily used forwards (Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez) and defenders (Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley) from the bench, leaving the midfield trio practically untouched except for an 89th-minute removal of Gravenberch for Wataru Endo during the 2-0 win over Brentford.
At his previous clubs, Slot was known for keeping his squad fit. Lead physical performance coach Ruben Peeters is key for tracking and managing the load of each player to avoid overworking them.
He may not have liked it against Brentford, but that is why Slot took Trent Alexander-Arnold off after 74 minutes. Liverpool’s vice-captain has been substituted for Conor Bradley in every game, but it is with the longer term in mind.
After the international break, the fixture schedule is relentless and Slot will hope to call on the 25-year-old as much as possible. Slot spoke to Alexander-Arnold on the bench against Brentford with the right-back unhappy, but he was much happier and understanding when taken off at Old Trafford a week later.
Man-management
It’s what he has done with the players on the back of those substitutions that highlights his qualities. Slot discussed the reasons for the early change with Quansah and defended him publicly.
Alexander-Arnold was also briefed on the reasons for his early departures, with Slot insisting he wants to keep the right-back fresh — even though he wants to play every minute.
There have been other notable stories about individuals. During the interviewing stage this summer when Liverpool were searching for Klopp’s replacement, the club highlighted players who needed assistance to get back to their high levels after ending last season badly.
One of those was Konate, who lost his place to Quansah and didn’t play a single minute for France at the European Championships. Slot held one-on-one meetings with many members of his team and recognised Konate’s ability to win first contact at set pieces and how his pace during counter-attacks would be useful.
He has also fired up Dominik Szoboszlai through coaching and man management. The Hungarian now looks like a strong, dynamic No 8 who can mix the defensive duties with driving runs from midfield and play pinpoint passes in attacking areas.
Perhaps the most impressive, though, is Ryan Gravenberch, often the deepest-lying of the midfield players. The 22-year-old has spent extra time working with coach Jonny Heitinga, who knew his skill set from their time together at Ajax, and so far looks comfortable in the role that Martin Zubimendi was supposed to fill until he rejected a move to Liverpool to stay at Real Sociedad.
Gravenberch has shown a marked improvement in the holding midfielder role (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
By working on fine details with Diaz, the Colombian is also developing a ruthless streak, although the sample size is small. If he can continue making clever runs at the right time, specific areas that have been worked on in training, then he might prove to be a difference-maker this season.
One major change, collectively, is the amount of detail that goes into preparing for games, perhaps because Slot is still learning a lot about each opponent. The number of team meetings at the AXA Training Centre have increased dramatically, with training sessions as well as matches analysed through video presentations.
Conor Bradley spoke about this after the friendly against Las Palmas in pre-season. “He wants to get his tactics embedded into us,” he said. “So he needs to keep doing meetings to show us what we are doing well and not doing well. It makes sense. Some are short and sharp, some are longer.”
Another slight change was the preparation for the first home game of the season against Brentford, with the team meeting on the morning of the game rather than staying over in The Titanic Hotel, like under Klopp.
One of Slot’s biggest strengths is how he’s able to delegate to those around him in his support team and already the dynamic between his coaches Heitinga, Sipke Hulshoff and Aaron Briggs looks good.
Fixing the misfiring Nunez must be high on the next to-do list. The striker hasn’t started a game yet, so again it’s too early to judge, but if Slot gets that right, Liverpool should be very excited.
Public relations
Slot isn’t the same character as Klopp — nor does he pretend to be. There’s a steely determination to be authentic and not put on an act despite his newly elevated status.
Clearly, though, his aura has been felt around the AXA training centre and Anfield. There’s an uplifting feeling in his presence. He’s positive about everything and that’s infectious. The way he speaks to support staff has not gone unnoticed by some of the longer-serving people behind the scenes and his openness to listen has been well received.
The players are yet to see or feel the wrath of an angry Slot because the early weeks have been so smooth. Generally, his nature is to be calm on the touchline because that rubs off on the team and helps emphasize the need to be in control.
Before games, he stands in the technical area watching his coaching team put the players through their paces, a varied approach to Klopp who used to stand in the centre circle watching the opposition warm up.
There was some surprise when he went straight down the tunnel after the opening day win at Ipswich rather than going across to celebrate with the away end but, in his mind, there was nothing to get excited about against a promoted side, especially as he identified clear areas of improvement. Slot believes his best way of establishing a close bond with the fans is to create a successful side playing attacking football.
His press conferences and discussions with the media aren’t going to produce exciting, headline-grabbing soundbites, but the way he analyses opponents and discusses in-game systems are both detailed and engaging.
Slot hasn’t fully immersed himself in the city yet, instead preferring to knuckle down and keep a low profile. It’s common for new coaching staff to live close together or sometimes even share accommodation during the early stages of a move, but Slot has moved into an apartment by himself, with his family back in the Netherlands.
Managing up
Slot’s relationship with sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards — the two main figures he answers to — is growing.
When Liverpool made it clear they were interested in bringing him to the club this summer, Slot responded by outlining how comfortable he felt with the title of head coach rather than manager.
Although he feels a huge degree of responsibility for the way forward, Slot is enjoying both the role and the structure he is working under. Regular conversations with Hughes throughout the transfer window centred on outgoings and “opportunistic” arrivals.
Slot was excited about bringing in Federico Chiesa as another strong addition to the forward line. He also made it clear he was comfortable allowing young players to leave on loan to either develop or increase in value, as he was happy to work with a small squad.
Chiesa has been an exciting signing (LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With Edwards returning to Liverpool, FSG president Mike Gordon has taken a step back. It’s now down to the triangle of power: Hughes, largely alongside Slot, and then Edwards higher up, to build a new structure in the post-Klopp era and take Liverpool forward.
Youth
One of the reasons Liverpool appointed Slot was because of his track record of working with and developing young players — including promoting from the academy.
Contrary to certain theories, Slot has not disbanded and sold the crop of youngsters labelled “Klopp’s Kids” that broke into the senior setup last season to help Liverpool win the Carabao Cup. Only Bobby Clark has moved permanently: to Red Bull Salzburg for £10million.
Bradley and Quansah are part of the first team, Lewis Koumas (Stoke City), Stefan Bajcetic (Salzburg) and Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) have been loaned to increase game time, while injuries ruled Jayden Danns and James McConnell out of short-term moves. There’s a belief that Peeters’ work around periodisation and load management will help avoid the kind of crisis that hampered Liverpool’s 2023-24 season. The chance to break into the first-team picture is therefore likely to be slim.
Trey Nyoni has been fast-tracked into the first-team setup (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
That does not mean there won’t be opportunities. After impressing in pre-season, 17-year-old Trey Nyoni has been fast-tracked into the first-team environment and has the potential to become a breakout star.
Liverpool also sold Fabio Carvalho (£27.5million) and Sepp van den Berg (£25m) to Brentford, both two young members of the squad. The pair impressed in pre-season and would have provided added depth. However, both wanted regular first-team football and would have been fighting for a place on the Liverpool bench.
(Top photo: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
