Is Arne Slot Set for Greatness?

On the day after Liverpool successfully defeated Aston Villa by a deserved 2-0 scoreline, the time for more reflection can only grow throughout this next international break. On Remembrance Sunday, Arsenal travelled across London to face Chelsea, where they were only be able to reduce the margin to the top to eight points. This scenario perhaps limits the participation of the Gunners in the upcoming battle for the end of season title. A disheartening 1-1 draw was recorded in that encounter, reducing the threat of last season’s runners up even more so.

The other critical match of the weekend saw Manchester City lose 2-1 at the American Express Stadium, as Brighton pulled off a superb second half comeback to deservedly take all three points from Pep Guardiola’s grasp. That late afternoon encounter preceded the reds Anfield extravaganza, something which would have lit the torch paper within the illustrious Anfield stadium, as well as for the expectant crowd in attendance. The Liverpool squad would have been made aware of that result on the south coast just thirty minutes before they themselves kicked off their match, something which would have enabled maximum incentive to the nineteen-time English League champions. Following eleven games played in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Arne Slot has overseen his team attain a tremendous 28-point total thus far, creating an impressive five-point advantage over second placed City, the reigning and defending champions.

The Etihad giants suffered their fourth straight loss in all competitions, which has reiterated the undeniable factor in losing their 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, for the remainder of this campaign. The 115-charged sports washing enterprise, must now continue to navigate their way through their hectic schedule of games without the most important component of their richly assembled squad. This reality is something which has opened the door for Liverpool to build a superb early season advantage, which could be extended when City travel to Anfield on December 1st.

Can Arne Slot Achieve Ultimate Success in Year One…?

Given that both Pep Guardiola, and Mikel Arteta, have struggled to find either rhythm or maximum points in their most recent domestic league games, the emphatic emergence of Jürgen Klopp’s successor, Arne Slot, could defy the pre-season predictions of the varying pundits. Many of the ex-footballing community had last season’s third placed team as a distant outside bet for glory, essentially given the loss of their great German manager. In any major alteration, there will likely be a drop off caused by the departure of someone so successful and adored, which clearly guided the choices made by those who wrote off the reds title credentials.

When both Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsene Wenger, retired from their last management positions in football, each club were unable to adjust accordingly to such a club altering situation. Regarding the Merseyside giants, it appears that the returning Sporting CEO, Michael Edwards, chose the man with the most drive and coaching capabilities imaginable. Where once this fabulous squad was loved and appreciated by the former Borussia Dortmund manager, this new leadership seems built on cold hearted decisions. The group has not changed hardly at all, whereas the approach and attitude appear recalibrated to match the playing quality within. When reviewing the brilliance of the current squad, there is no denying the elite levels that are spread across the board, therefore, the appointment of a superb tactical coach appears to have been the ideal outcome.

Though the season is still in its infancy, no one can deny the winning nature of Liverpool’s football. With caveats and excuses littering the adversaries of the reds, it is true that a month of poor results can alter the landscape drastically. Despite this harsh reality, there seems to be an unmistakable sense of coordination in the new Liverpool manager, one which could lead the Anfield club to a 20th English league crown next May.