Liverpool, once a European powerhouse, has had a steady return to the European football elite after being a bit quiet since 2009. After Jurgen Klopp took over in 2015., then 5 times Champions League winners made brilliant signings that brought them back in the company of the greatest clubs in the world.
Ultimately, they won their sixth Champions League title in 2019 and their first Premier League title in 2020, after not winning their domestic league since 1990. Some are taking that away from them due to it being the “COVID league”, but all in all, they played well and were the best team in England that year.
They were a bit unlucky as well, as they played 3 Champions League finals during Klopp’s tenure, but they were up against Real Madrid 2 times and lost. That was a hard blow for them, as winning 3 Champions Leagues in 5 years span would be a huge accomplishment. Jurgen Klopp brought a lot of great things to the club in terms of tactics and team mentality, which is something we’re eager to see how Arne Slot will succeed.
In terms of players, Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been exciting and carefully planned as always with the arrival of Italian maestro Federico Chiesa from Juventus. Slot’s quick passing, high-energy football combined with Chiesa’s skills might reshape Liverpool into a real force.
Slot’s Tactical Approach – The New Old Tactics?
In the 2019/20 Eredivisie season, Slot’s AZ Alkmaar ranked second for average possession. This proves how much Slot loves controlling the ball. The so-called double-pivot tactics (4-2-3-1-) were key to his ball control. After moving to Feyenoord from AZ Alkmaar, Slot stuck to the 4-2-3-1 shape in possession and the double pivot. His team played high possession.
Off the ball, Slot liked an organised pressing play – often using the winger and the full-back to jump aggressively when opposing teams sent the ball wide. Slot’s teams are known for their hard pressing, high energy aggressive style. This proved useful in Eredivisie. How will it translate to the Premier League? If we can speculate from the first initial matches against Manchester United, Bretford and Ipswich Town, surprisingly well. The optimism translated well to betting sites. For example, most betting platforms predicted Liverpool will win the match against Manchester United, giving them around 52% probability. Sportsbooks are a good way to tell the general feel and atmosphere around the club, and so far, seems like Slot gives confidence. Of course, three games are not a substantial pool of data, but we like what we’re seeing so far.
Interestingly enough, Slot’s new tactics brough back some of the “old” elements, reminding us how Klopp used to play high in his early days as well. Perhaps with this lineup it makes more sense.
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Chiesa’s Role Under Slot
Federico Chiesa’s skillset fits perfectly with Slot’s preferred tactical approach. Chiesa’s ability to operate on both wings or as a secondary striker provides Slot with several tactical options. His pace, dribbling, and finishing ability will come in handy for Liverpool in attack. Under Slot, Chiesa could be unleashed in a more aggressive role, with the freedom to roam and create chances.
Slot has the opportunity to completely reshape the squad and use Chiesa as a valuable tool to help Salah in front. The two of them have the potential to become one of the best duos in the world. The only problem that Liverpool might face with Chiesa is the injuries, which plagued his time during his stay at Juventus. If Liverpool can somehow mitigate that, his potential would be limitless and could be completely unstoppable in Arne Slot’s formation.
Salah is out of his Comfort Zone, But That’s Good
It’s expected to see players having some trouble adapting to a new style of football. Mo Salah commented recently how he feels out of his comfort zone, and how Slot’s approach reminds him of the “old” Liverpool when they were also trying to win the ball as high as possible. Being out of comfort zone is not a bad thing though. When players like Salah are challenged to bring something new to the table, we can expect great things to happen. It’s evident from the last three games anyway.
