Twenty four hours after Juergen
Klopp's emotional Liverpool farewell, Arne Slot was handed the
seemingly impossible mission of trying to fill the void left by
the charismatic Kop idol.
Klopp's high-octane football and his passion for the city,
not to mention the seven major trophies he delivered in his nine
years on Merseyside, including the Champions League and a first
English title for 30 years, elevated him alongside the likes of
club icons Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
Slot would have been only too aware that succeeding serial
trophy winners at England's biggest clubs can be a poisoned
chalice, just ask David Moyes who began the post-Alex Ferguson
era at Manchester United or Unai Emery, the man who replaced
Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Neither lasted long.
But Slot has made the transition look like a Sunday morning
stroll in Stanley Park.
Tasked with turning what had been a two-horse race for the
past two seasons between Manchester City and Arsenal into a
three-horse race, expectations of the relatively under-the-radar
Slot from those outside the club were low.
When BBC Sport's army of pundits were asked before the
season which club would win the league, none of the 30
responders opted for Liverpool.
Yet any doubts about Liverpool's decision to recruit Slot
from Feyenoord were erased in the season's opening weeks.
With Klopp's squad, barring the signing of Federico Chiesa
who has hardly featured, Slot won eight of his first 10 Premier
League games in charge -- the best start by a new manager in
Liverpool's history.
Helped by City's drastic decline in form and Arsenal's
levelling off, a clinical Liverpool have been top of the table
for all but one week since Sept. 28, losing only two games.
One criticism that could be levelled at Slot is an FA Cup
exit at the hands of second-tier Plymouth Argyle and a
disappointing League Cup final loss to Newcastle United.
They also lost to Paris St Germain on penalties in an
enthralling Champions League last-16 tie, but delivering a 20th
English title to match the record held for so long by
arch-rivals Manchester United is what the fans desired most and
means Slot now joins an elite club.
Only five managers have won the Premier League in their
debut season in English football -- the others being Jose
Mourinho (Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini
(Manchester City) and Antonio Conte (Chelsea).
Those being churlish may hark back to the Klopp era and
suggest that Slot's disciplined side lack the same style, flair
and ability to create glorious chaos on the field.
Not that Slot would care too much about that and the fact
that Liverpool have registered two or more goals in all but five
of their 34 league games and top the scoring charts makes a
mockery of accusations they have been dull to watch.
Crucially, after inheriting a squad full of world class
players, Slot's quiet self-confidence meant he could resist any
temptation to re-invent the wheel, instead calmly going about
putting his own stamp on Klopp's blueprint.
"He hasn't tried to impersonate Klopp in any way," former
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said when asked how Slot has
made the transition so smooth this season.
"There has been a calmness about him, and the club. He
didn't think he needed to buy anybody. There's been a lot of
turmoil around other big clubs, but at Liverpool this season it
always feels like they have been in control."
Forward Mohamed Salah has thrived under Slot, given more
licence to remain in dangerous areas and conserve energy in the
knowledge that those in the engine room were working overtime.
Virgil van Dijk continues to be a colossus for Liverpool at
the back, as does Alisson in goal.
New heroes have stepped out from the shadows under Slot too.
Hungary's all-round midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai runs himself
into the ground week in, week out, while the emergence of
holding midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as arguably Liverpool's most
influential player is testament to Slot's man management skills.
While Liverpool have cruised to the title this season, Slot
will be fully aware that standing still is not an option and
while the fact that Salah and Van Dijk have agreed new contracts
is a huge boost, squad strengthening will need to happen.
"There is a big job to be done in the summer. He will really
put his imprint on this team next season," Carragher said.
Twenty four hours after Juergen
Klopp's emotional Liverpool farewell, Arne Slot was handed the
seemingly impossible mission of trying to fill the void left by
the charismatic Kop idol.
Klopp's high-octane football and his passion for the city,
not to mention the seven major trophies he delivered in his nine
years on Merseyside, including the Champions League and a first
English title for 30 years, elevated him alongside the likes of
club icons Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
Slot would have been only too aware that succeeding serial
trophy winners at England's biggest clubs can be a poisoned
chalice, just ask David Moyes who began the post-Alex Ferguson
era at Manchester United or Unai Emery, the man who replaced
Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Neither lasted long.
But Slot has made the transition look like a Sunday morning
stroll in Stanley Park.
Tasked with turning what had been a two-horse race for the
past two seasons between Manchester City and Arsenal into a
three-horse race, expectations of the relatively under-the-radar
Slot from those outside the club were low.
When BBC Sport's army of pundits were asked before the
season which club would win the league, none of the 30
responders opted for Liverpool.
Yet any doubts about Liverpool's decision to recruit Slot
from Feyenoord were erased in the season's opening weeks.
With Klopp's squad, barring the signing of Federico Chiesa
who has hardly featured, Slot won eight of his first 10 Premier
League games in charge -- the best start by a new manager in
Liverpool's history.
Helped by City's drastic decline in form and Arsenal's
levelling off, a clinical Liverpool have been top of the table
for all but one week since Sept. 28, losing only two games.
One criticism that could be levelled at Slot is an FA Cup
exit at the hands of second-tier Plymouth Argyle and a
disappointing League Cup final loss to Newcastle United.
They also lost to Paris St Germain on penalties in an
enthralling Champions League last-16 tie, but delivering a 20th
English title to match the record held for so long by
arch-rivals Manchester United is what the fans desired most and
means Slot now joins an elite club.
Only five managers have won the Premier League in their
debut season in English football -- the others being Jose
Mourinho (Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini
(Manchester City) and Antonio Conte (Chelsea).
Those being churlish may hark back to the Klopp era and
suggest that Slot's disciplined side lack the same style, flair
and ability to create glorious chaos on the field.
Not that Slot would care too much about that and the fact
that Liverpool have registered two or more goals in all but five
of their 34 league games and top the scoring charts makes a
mockery of accusations they have been dull to watch.
Crucially, after inheriting a squad full of world class
players, Slot's quiet self-confidence meant he could resist any
temptation to re-invent the wheel, instead calmly going about
putting his own stamp on Klopp's blueprint.
"He hasn't tried to impersonate Klopp in any way," former
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said when asked how Slot has
made the transition so smooth this season.
"There has been a calmness about him, and the club. He
didn't think he needed to buy anybody. There's been a lot of
turmoil around other big clubs, but at Liverpool this season it
always feels like they have been in control."
Forward Mohamed Salah has thrived under Slot, given more
licence to remain in dangerous areas and conserve energy in the
knowledge that those in the engine room were working overtime.
Virgil van Dijk continues to be a colossus for Liverpool at
the back, as does Alisson in goal.
New heroes have stepped out from the shadows under Slot too.
Hungary's all-round midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai runs himself
into the ground week in, week out, while the emergence of
holding midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as arguably Liverpool's most
influential player is testament to Slot's man management skills.
While Liverpool have cruised to the title this season, Slot
will be fully aware that standing still is not an option and
while the fact that Salah and Van Dijk have agreed new contracts
is a huge boost, squad strengthening will need to happen.
"There is a big job to be done in the summer. He will really
put his imprint on this team next season," Carragher said.