Yahoo Sports Why Arne Slot's Liverpool are BETTER EQUIPPED to deal with Man Utd than Klopp's leaky lineup
Liverpool's rivalry with Manchester United remains the biggest in the English game and the fixture that produces the most butterflies leading up to kickoff.
The fact that the Reds seem incapable of turning up at Old Trafford and playing well makes the whole thing even more unbearable, barring the odd memorable sporadic display.
On Sunday, the two bitter adversaries again face off in the Premier League, with the Red Devils the same old mishmash they've always been under Erik ten Hag.
Read more: Liverpool legend reveals Arne Slot's PLOT to beat Man Utd
As for Liverpool, the difference between Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp has been abundantly clear, with the Dutchman making an impressive start to life as Liverpool's new head coach.
Granted, a trip to Ipswich Town and a visit of Brentford are far from the greatest fixtures to gauge the impact Slot has made, but the tweaks are still obvious.
Klopp's more chaotic and wildly entertaining style has been traded for a more measured approach - one in which ball retention and less risk in possession are at the forefront of the Dutchman's thinking.
Slot's Liverpool less vulnerable
That's not to say that explosive football still hasn't been on show, though, with Diogo Jota's strike at Ipswich and Luis Diaz's opener at home to Brentford both magnificent in their execution.
Slot has made Liverpool less susceptible and vulnerable, in terms of taking too many risks in key areas and leaving themselves open to the counter-attack.
It all feels safer and chances are being given less regularly so far, which is an area where Manchester City and Arsenal also excel. They enjoy total control in most matches.
Football - FA Premier League - Manchester United, ManU FC v Liverpool FC MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 7, 2024: Liverpool s Darwin Nunez reacts after missing a chance during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda MANCHESTER Old Trafford GREATER MANCHESTER ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex 2024-04-07-106-Man_Utd_Liverpool
Old Trafford causes Liverpool pain
The real test comes on Sunday afternoon, however, as Slot heads to United and faces a fixture that has caused Liverpool so much pain down the years.
Last season epitomised the Reds' ineptitude at Old Trafford, twice coming up against a Red Devils team who were something close to a shambles under Ten Hag, only to be dumped out of the FA Cup and draw 2-2 in the league.
They were even held to a stalemate at Anfield earlier in the campaign.
Amad Diallo's last-gasp winner in the 4-3 cup loss back in March summed up Liverpool's almost-reckless approach last season, having become a more daft team than they were during the best seasons with Klopp in charge.
One failure to deal with a bouncing ball by Harvey Elliott - following their own corner in stoppage time in extra-time! - and United were two-on-one, and the rest is depressing history.
Klopp's Liverpool open at the back
The idea of Liverpool conceding a goal like that under Slot seems unfathomable, with the Reds' decision to leave themselves SO open at the back, in the dying seconds of a game where penalties would have been just fine, completely reckless.
There has been plenty said about the difference between Klopp and Slot, and if the supporters would settle for this new serene style of play, but Anfield legend Steve Nicol has summed it up perfectly in recent days, also focusing on the counter-attacking threat of United.
"United can only win this game on the counter-attack but the way Liverpool played and the way they changed how they went forward, it wasn’t the rock and roll of Klopp, it was more measured," Nicol said.
"There was a sense of 'we can outpass teams but we aren’t going to do it in a way that makes us vulnerable if we lose the ball'.
“When Brentford won the ball back, Liverpool smothered them and that’s not something Liverpool did the last two seasons, they’ve been giving opportunities away."
Klopp's flawed approach
None of this is a slight on Klopp, who will likely never come close to being usurped by Slot.
He is arguably on a Mount Rushmore of the most influential figures in Liverpool's history and he gave the supporters many incredible memories, sometimes adopting a hard-to-beat style in his own right.
But it did reach a point where his approach started to feel more flawed, as players aged and legs tired, and the Reds were conceding goals and finding themselves in precarious situations too often.
That feels different now, and Liverpool supporters will feel particularly relieved about it as they head to United, on a day when clear minds are needed over anything heavy metal-related.
This is not a good team they are coming up against, and deep down, Slot will surely know that.
Slot won't play into Man Utd hands
Playing into United's hands and allowing the pace of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Diallo to become a potent weapon has to be avoided and is the only win they will realistically lose.
Pragmatism is needed over recklessness.
If Slot can help his players overcome the mental barrier that seems to affect them so often at United, and many Liverpool teams of the past for that matter, there is no reason why the Reds can't ease to a third successive Premier League win to start their season.
We will know far more about Slot and the pedigree of this Liverpool side come Sunday evening, with a mature, resounding win whetting the appetite for the season ahead.
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