Earlier on in the season Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club after 9 years in charge. It was news that shocked the football world but of course also led to plenty of speculation as to who would replace him. Xabi Alonso, Roberto de Zerbi, Ruben Amorim, the list goes on. So many managers linked with a move to Liverpool but it seems as though they’ve finally got their man: Arne Slot.
Who is Arne Slot?
Liverpool were linked with some big names in the managerial world and have ended up with someone not many people are familiar with yet. So here’s what you need to know about Slot. He joined Feyenoord from AZ Alkmaar in 2020, his side finished 3rd and he won the Eredivise manager of the year award. They also reached the Europa Conference League final that year, narrowly missing out to Jose Mourinho’s Roma,
Embed from Getty ImagesThat summer Feyenoord lost many key players, but still managed to win the Eredivise in 2022/23. This year Feyenoord are second behind PSV by nine points. However that’s not due to them dropping off, but because of PSV’s incredible form this season. In fact, they are unbeaten since the start of December. Feyenoord have already won a trophy this season, after beating NEC Nijmegen 1-0 in the KNVB Final.
Why is Slot so highly rated?
Slot’s turned Feyenoord into a powerhouse in the Eredivise, they’ve been very successful and play an attractive style of football. A big part of why players rate him so highly is his man management, he is good with his players on a personal level which allows him to get more from them on the pitch.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the pitch he’s rated highly due to his influence on football in such a short space of time. The Dutchman landed his first managerial role at Alkmaar just five years ago and after transforming Feyenoord, his is already deemed ready for the Premier League.
Slot’s tactics
In possession Slot like his side to be in a 4-2-3-1 shape and to build the play using a double pivot midfield. The two players in the double pivot operate close to the centre backs and use short passes to move the ball around the oppositions press. This is fairly similar to Roberto De Zerbi’s set up at Brighton in terms of the use of third man combinations to build the play.
The full backs remain deep in the build up and then push up and support when the ball is in more advanced areas. When the full backs push up, the midfielders in the double pivot support from deeper positions to restart attacking moves or switch the play. The wingers move inside to support the attacking midfielder which results in a numerical advantages in the middle of the park. This system often creates a four against three overload in favour of Slot’s side.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis midfield system is known as the attacking quartet which is supported by the two players in the double pivot. The attacking quartet is made up of the two wingers, the attacking midfielder and the striker. When the ball is on the left of the box, the left winger holds the width and combines with the central players when closer to goal. On the right of the box, the right winger comes inside, meaning you have two central attakcing midfielders. This allows the right back to push up and have far more space out wide. When the play is on the other side this system is reversed.
Out of possession Arne Slot opts for a high press. When the opposition send the ball wide, the winger and full back press aggressively, leaving a back three with the double pivots screening to cover them. The attacking midfielder also pushes across to support the press out wide, often preventing the player closest to the ball to be able to receive a pass The midfielders in the double pivot go man for man which leads to more regains in midfield. As Slot’s side have so many players high up the pitch when pressing, they cause a big threat if they do win the ball back due to the amount of attacking options immediately available. Feyenoord’s pressing set up is one of the most successful in Europe, they’ve made 722 interceptions so far this season, Liverpool’s are currently on 706 which suggests this is a system the could easily learn.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlthough Slot’s teams prefer a high press, they don’t overcommit to it. If it’s not on, they won’t do it and are more than comfortable to be more defensive and sit in a low-mid block. The 4-4-2 shape provides better support on the wings. Although it’s a more reserved block, the wide players still apply pressure aggressively when the moment is right. The double pivots in midfield have different roles depending on the side the ball is on. The midfielder closest to the ball supports the wide press, whilst the other stays to protect the back line and not leave too much open space in the middle of the pitch to exploit.
How does this suit Liverpool?
Feyenoord’s attacking style is very similar to Liverpool’s as well as their high pressing approach, which should mean the Liverpool players won’t take too long to adapt to Slot’s ideas.
Feyenoord’s pressing system is one of the best in Europe; last season, only Benfica won possession more times in the final third per game than Feyenoord. Liverpool and Feyenoord also share similarities from high turn overs and shot-ending high turn overs. Feyenoord have made just nine fewer high turnovers from four less games and six less shot-ending high turnovers, highlighting the effectiveness of the press.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat will the Liverpool team look like?
Trent Alexander-Arnold will flourish under Slot as he like to create space for full backs to push high and get lots of crosses into the box. The two wingers under Slot are usually positioned so they can cut inside which is what Liverpool currently do with left-footed Salah playing on the right and right-footed Diaz on the left. Salah is linked with a move away but it’s reported that Jarrod Bowen could make a move to Anfield and he too fits the mould to do well under Slot. He can cut in and use his left from the right and also has experience drifting in and becoming a more central player which we would see from him in the attacking quartet. Koopmeiners has been linked with Liverpool for a long time and seeing as he used to play under Slot it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dutchman tries to bring in a player whose succeeded under him before. Overall it looks to be a smooth transition tactically, it will be interesting though to see what happens in the transfer window this June.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Isabelle Newnham
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