One defeat in 18 league matches. Arne Slot’s tenure as Liverpool supervisor couldn’t have gotten off to a significantly better begin.
The expectations have been greater than the sky following Jurgen Klopp’s departure after 9 years of profitable trophies, forging relationships and creating long-lasting reminiscences.
Within the aftermath of Manchester Metropolis’s historic fourth Premier League title in a row and Arsenal’s rising confidence in difficult for home honours, Liverpool followers might be forgiven for considering there can be a season, or two, of transition.
Maybe not fairly as drastic because the fallout after Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger left their dynasties at Manchester United and Arsenal. However no new main summer time signings and a coach solely having success in a league exterior of the highest 5 European leagues can be sufficient to be cautious.
Thankfully, for Slot, the foundations have been laid by Klopp.
Three wins out of three was adopted by a shock, on the time no less than, residence defeat to Nottingham Forest. Any issues of that being the beginning of a dip or a actuality test have been rapidly forgotten.
Now 23 video games in all competitions unbeaten since, together with sweeping apart Champions League holders Actual Madrid, have put the Reds heading in the right direction for a second Premier League title and seventh European Cup.
High at Christmas
The all-important milestone of being high at Christmas has traditionally been a great indicator as to who would end as champions come the top of the season.
However the pendulum could also be swinging. Within the final six seasons, solely two groups who have been high at Christmas went on to say the title.
Sadly, for Liverpool, three of those six instances have been led by them, however they solely gained the title as soon as.
Historical past is just not on their facet both. Of the 32 earlier Premier League seasons, it’s cut up down the center – 16-a-piece – of sides profitable the league having been high at Christmas.
Extra grim studying for the Reds is that from the half-a-dozen events they’ve been high at Christmas, their solitary league title was within the 2019/20 marketing campaign, which noticed celebrations disrupted because of the COVID pandemic.
Would may derail the title problem?
In a season the place Pep Guardiola’s facet have dropped their ranges considerably and Arsenal have didn’t capitalise on this with inconsistent outcomes, what, if something, may disrupt the Reds’ cost?
Three darkish clouds have tried however seemingly didn’t overshadow Liverpool’s season. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contracts expire on the finish of this season and all three can signal pre-contract agreements with overseas golf equipment on 1 January.
To all three’s credit score, they haven’t been distracted and carried out to their highest degree. Salah has hit 20 targets in all competitions for Liverpool for the eighth season. Van Dijk has the joint-most clear sheets after his 18 video games performed; eight together with Nottingham Forest duo Nikola Milenkovic and Matz Sels. Alexander-Arnold has 4 assists, however his defensive work has improved considerably below Slot’s steerage.
Accidents are at all times a key consider a title problem fading, however up to now, so wholesome. The midfield has usually been tinkered with however ever-improving. Ryan Gravenberch has gone onto new ranges below his Dutch compatriot, whereas Curtis Jones has stepped up, too, in targets and assists.
Diogo Jota, usually out of the facet with niggles, has come again on the proper time and proving his value because the Reds’ most deadly marksman when on the pitch, Egpytian firm included.
Below Klopp’s reign, Liverpool’s backbone was paramount to their success. This included goalkeeper Allison Becker, however even in his absence, Caoimhin Kelleher has stepped up and been a seamless and essential cog in Liverpool’s wheel. The one blemish on his document was the error that led to Newcastle United’s late leveller in a 3-3 thriller at St James’ Park, however he had sufficient credit score within the financial institution earlier than that mistake.
Slot himself has confirmed to be a relaxed and composed manner from the sidelines, a stark distinction to Klopp’s emphatic fist bumps.
His brief relationship with the media can’t be downplayed both. Typically referring to his solutions as ‘boring’, when requested in regards to the switch hypothesis of his three key gamers, Slot is all enterprise. He has not shied away from the expectations and calls for of competing for trophies as a supervisor and participant of Liverpool.
Whereas the document books could not favour the Reds, Slot might be becoming a member of the esteemed firm of Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Carlo Ancelotti in profitable the Premier League of their first season.