Arne Slot to Bring Liverpool Back to Top Level?

Arne Slot, the Dutch coach who brought Feyenoord back to the top of the Eredivisie is set to embark on his exciting journey in the Premier League as the new Liverpool FC manager. In this article we will go deeper into who the new manager is and why he is the perfect fit for Liverpool, capable of leading the Reds to new succeses in the Premier League and Champions League.

Who is the new Liverpool manager?

Arne Slot, born on September 17, 1978, in the Dutch town of Bergentheim, has become one of the most exciting football managers to watch. At the time we are writing this blog, Slot is 46 years old.

His professional football career, playing as a midfielder, started in the second division with Dutch side FC Zwolle, where he spent seven seasons, ultimately winning the second division title in his final year. After helping FC Zwolle secure promotion, Slot transferred to Eredivisie club NAC Breda, where he enjoyed five seasons before moving to Sparta Rotterdam. Slot spent three seasons at Sparta before returning to his first love PEC Zwolle, for another four years. During this time, he won the second division championship once more before retiring from professional football in 2013.

Career statistics as a player

Tactics; how he will revolutionize Liverpool’s style

Arne Slot is known for his tactical innovation and Liverpool fans can expect an exciting new approach to football under his leadership. Drawing from his success at Feyenoord, Slot’s methods are built on intelligent pressing, fluid formations and possession-based football. But how exactly will his tactical style transform Liverpool’s game?

High-intensity pressing; refreshing Liverpool’s energy

One of Slot’s signature tactical elements is his team’s high-intensity pressing game. At Feyenoord, his players were tireless in their pursuit of the ball, pressing aggressively and disrupting the opposition’s build-up play. This pressing style will fit in seamlessly at Liverpool, where pressing has been a core part of the team’s tactics under previous manager Jürgen Klopp.

His pressing is unique because it is strategically coordinated, with players pressing in waves to force mistakes higher up the pitch. This will allow Liverpool to regain possession quickly and transition into attack faster, keeping the opponent constantly under pressure.

The 4-3-3 formation; a different touch

Under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool played with a dynamic 4-3-3 formation, featuring highly attacking full-backs like Robertson and Alexander-Arnold. With the new manager now at the lead, Liverpool will continue with the same formation, but Slot’s approach brings a notable shift in tactics. Unlike Klopp, who used his full-backs aggressively with overlaps and coming into the final third, Slot prefers a more nuanced strategy. His full-backs will frequently move into central midfield positions, creating a compact midfield “box” of two defending midfielders and two more attacking midfielders, that ensures a numeral advantage in the center of the pitch. With this adjustment, he wants to strengthen Liverpool’s control over the game and leverage their numeral advantage against opponents using “controlled chaos”.

Possession-based football; total control

Under Slot, Liverpool’s approach to possession will become even more controlled and methodical. Slot values retaining ball possession, using short, precise passes to lure the opposition out of defense and create space. His possession style, similar to the tactics of managers like Pep Guardiola, will focus on controlling the game through patient build-up play.

This change will allow Liverpool to dominate games in a way they haven’t before, especially against teams that sit deep. By keeping the ball and waiting for the right moment to strike, Slot’s system reduces the opposition’s time on the ball and forces them to constantly defend.

Versatile attack; unpredictability in the final third

One of the most exciting aspects of Slot’s tactics is his versatile attacking play. Slot doesn’t rely on a single forward to carry the attacking load. Instead, his system is built on positional fluidity, with forwards changing positions and midfielders making late runs into the box or midfielders ending up on the wings, Calvin Stengs being the best example at Slot’s Feyenoord.

At Liverpool this approach will allow players like Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and others to rotate and confuse defenders. This unpredictability makes it difficult for opposing teams to organize defensively, creating doubt for opposition defenders and therefore creating more space in between the confused defenders.

A compact defense; organized and disciplined

Despite his attacking mindset, Slot’s defensive approach is just as crucial to his success. His teams are compact and organized, often defending as a unit to close down space and limit the opposition’s attacking options. Slot’s defensive structure includes a high defensive line, similar to how Liverpool have played in recent years under Klopp. This high line compresses the field, making it easier to close down the opponent and win the ball back to launch quick counter-attacks.

Impact on Liverpool’s future success

If Arne Slot can implement his tactical vision at Liverpool, there’s a strong chance he will lead the team back to the top of both the Premier League and Champions League, although the competition is high with opponents like Guardiola’s Manchester City and Arteta’s Arsenal who have been implementing their tactics for years. Slot’s focus on high-intensity pressing, fluid formations, and possession-based football aligns well with Liverpool’s existing strengths, while also offering new dimensions to their play.

With Slot at the wheel, Liverpool fans can look forward to a refreshed, more unpredictable team that can challenge for major trophies on all fronts.