Can Arne Slot's Liverpool Measure Up Against Jurgen Klopp's Top-Performing Squad?
Can Arne Slot's Liverpool Measure Up Against Jurgen Klopp's Top-Performing Squad?
This season, it's looking unlikely that there'll be a title contest in the Premier League. Liverpool is currently leading by seven points at the top and even has an extra game in their pocket. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are rapidly falling behind in the rearview.
Many thought Liverpool would face a challenging transition after Jurgen Klopp left. But quite the opposite has happened – the Reds have improved under Arne Slot. In fact, Slot's current Liverpool team might even surpass Klopp's best Liverpool teams, with the Anfield squad leading the way in the revamped Champions League group stage.
The 2019/20 season marked Klopp's top Premier League campaign as Liverpool manager, with the Reds WINNING 16 out of their first 17 matches. However, sadly, they're currently seven points behind where they were at the same point during the 2019/20 season.
Despite this, every single department of the Liverpool team is performing at its best. Defensively, they rank second-best in the league, and offensively, they're on fire. Slot has also managed to revamp the midfield, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister excelling.
"If you've been in this game for a while, like some of these players and myself, you know that you don't look at it 20 games before the end," Slot mentioned when questioned about the risk of Liverpool becoming complacent with their leadership.
"There are still so many challenges ahead. A few months ago, we were just one point behind Manchester City. Look at them now – injuries, suspensions, bad luck – it can happen to anyone. It's far too early to celebrate. There weren't many easy wins in these games, and that tells you how tough it is to win when all your players are available. We just have to take it one game at a time."
Liverpool is currently at a crucial juncture with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk all nearing the end of their contracts next summer. For now, though, the Reds are performing at heights that even Klopp never reached while managing Liverpool. These are golden days at Anfield.
Liverpool's impressive run in the Premier League has also translated into significant financial gains, making them one of the most profitable sports teams in terms of money from sports business.
Slot's success with Liverpool has also attracted interest from other top football clubs looking to replicate his strategies in their own business operations, further cementing Liverpool's position as a leader in both sports and business.