Jürgen Klopp has stepped down as the manager of Liverpool after an impressive nine-year tenure, making way for the appointment of Arne Slot as the club’s new manager. We at The Football Yeller are here to cover What can Slot bring to Liverpool? Arne Slot was thrilled to join Liverpool, one of the world’s most respected clubs.
What can Slot bring to Liverpool? Preview
In April, the Reds reached an agreement with Feyenoord for a compensation deal worth £9.4 million. This decision was made because the 45-year-old was identified as the ideal candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Slot’s three-year contract at Liverpool is set to begin on June 1st, pending a work permit. Liverpool conducted extensive research, analyzing various factors such as data and character, ultimately selecting Slot as their preferred candidate.
Based on his track record with Alkmaar and Feyenoord, it’s clear that this manager has a knack for exceeding expectations with limited resources. He also has an impressive track record for nurturing young talent and plays a style of football that Liverpool believes will complement their squad.
Klopp was well-known for his intense style of play, and the Reds have high hopes that Slot will introduce a dynamic, high-energy, possession-based style of football to the club. In a strategic move, the Anfield club has bestowed upon him the title of head coach, a decision they believe aligns better with the modern game and enhances the team’s structure.
Slot’s tactics lean more towards Guardiola’s style than Klopp’s. “I definitely don’t want to draw any comparisons between myself and Pep, but we both have a strong desire for control,” Slot shared with Voetbal International in May 2023. Read What can Slot bring to Liverpool? till the end.
“Manchester City—and I want to make it clear that I’m not trying to draw comparisons here—shares a similar style of play to our vision for Feyenoord: a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on building up from the back and applying pressure swiftly. “
Slot’s attacking tactics are well-known to Premier League fans, characterized by high-energy, hard-pressing, and possession-centric play. He has a strong understanding of the current fashion trends, leaning towards the influential style of Guardiola rather than the unconventional approach of Klopp.
The statistics support this claim. His Feyenoord team has accumulated 148 “build-up attacks,” which is the same number as Liverpool. However, Slot’s team has made 72 “direct attacks,” while Liverpool has made 99, significantly more and leading the Premier League charts.
The passing statistics of Slot and Klopp effectively highlight how different their styles are. Liverpool has completed the second-highest number of long passes in the Premier League, totalling 1,638. In contrast, Feyenoord has completed the second-lowest number of long passes in the Eredivisie, with a total of 1,258.
When considering Liverpool’s long-ball strategy, one cannot help but envision those impressive diagonal switches that set them apart from the Guardiola-inspired Slot. Liverpool is ranked second for diagonal switches, with a total of 132, while Feyenoord is currently at the bottom of their league with only 57.
Slot’s dynamic, proactive style of play emphasizes the use of wingers to launch attacks from the flanks, opening up chances for precise passes into the box while putting pressure on the opposing defence. This strategy evokes memories of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, and Manchester City’s remarkable 100-point season in 2017/18.
Feyenoord is currently ranked second in the Eredivisie for attempted take-ons, with a total of 777. Interestingly, both Liverpool and Manchester City are significantly lower on the list in England.
Slot’s football is characterized by an incredibly aggressive and intense pressing style, which undoubtedly caught the attention of Liverpool. “When we don’t have possession, we aim to regain it as soon as possible through aggressive pressing,” Slot has emphasized.
This style aligns more with Klopp than Guardiola, making it a perfect match for the high-energy, aggressive Liverpool team that has made a thrilling comeback this season. The measure of pressing intensity that stands out as the best is passes per defensive action (PPDA).
Feyenoord’s PPDA this season is 10.1, which is not only the second-lowest in the Eredivisie, but also ranks third among English clubs. Liverpool (8.9) and Tottenham Hotspur (8.8) have even lower PPDA numbers, while Man City’s PPDA is higher at 12.0.
However, even in his more Klopp-like moments, Slot seems to be channelling the spirit of Guardiola once again. Appreciating the culture of Liverpool, both as a club and as a city, played a crucial role in Klopp’s achievements.
Slot’s personality is well-suited for investing in talent from Liverpool. It’s no surprise that several players aged 23 or under have started at least 10 Eredivisie matches for Feyenoord this season. Developing young players is one of Slot’s strongest characteristics.
Ever since Slot joined Feyenoord in the 2021/22 season, the club has managed to generate a net profit of approximately £35 million from player transfers. Interestingly, the largest amount spent during the summer transfer window in that period was around £31 million.
He has been compelled to enhance the players available to him. That’s great news for Liverpool’s young squad, especially for the talented Academy products like Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, and Bobby Clark. One potential downside to consider is his lack of experience at a higher level.
“Moving from Feyenoord to Liverpool is a significant leap,” commented Jamie Carragher during his appearance on Sky Sports when the discussions were initially announced. It seems evident that there is currently a shortage of truly exceptional managers, considering the choices Liverpool is making.
It’s quite a significant leap, but there’s no denying that he’s an exceptional coach with an impressive history of success. We’ll see. It wasn’t exactly a glowing recommendation, and Carragher highlights some of the concerns that arise when hiring a manager who lacks experience in a top-tier league.
The Premier League offers a distinct and intriguing challenge, both in terms of tactics and psychology. The level of football is significantly elevated, and the intense attention at a club like Liverpool is overwhelming.
The significant leap in performance was evident as Feyenoord failed to advance past the group stages of the UEFA Champions League this season. They finished below Atletico Madrid and Lazio, managing to win only two matches and suffering a 2-1 loss against Celtic.
The complete roster of individuals accompanying Slot has yet to be officially announced, but it is anticipated that his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, and current Feyenoord head of performance, Ruben Peeters, will be among them.
There are expectations that analyst and technical advisor Etienne Reijnen will be joining Slot at Anfield. Slot’s impressive track record in European competitions speaks volumes about his success on the continental stage. The level of Dutch football falls short in comparison to the elite teams in Europe.
The transition to Liverpool, then, will certainly be a significant change. Slot possesses the necessary tactical acumen, coaching skills, and a proven track record to excel in this endeavour. However, the Premier League can be a harsh environment, as Liverpool fans can attest.
They only need to glance over at Old Trafford and recall the optimism surrounding Erik ten Hag’s move from the Eredivisie to understand how quickly dreams can be shattered by the harsh realities of the game.
The upcoming season will reveal if Slot can live up to the high standards set by Klopp, both in terms of data analysis and on-field results and performances.
For more stories, like, What can Slot bring to Liverpool? Red’s Arne Slot has been confirmed as Klopp’s Replacement. Click Here
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