It was a step into the unknown when Arne Slot took charge of his first competitive Liverpool game away at Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. It is fair to say that they started as they meant to continue.
A measured approach after a steady enough start, the head coach making an impact at half time and, Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet; that August display at Portman Road contained all the hallmarks that have underpinned Slot’s first season to date.
There has been a notable shift under Slot, with Liverpool seeking the right balance between risk and reward. After 31 games this term, Liverpool have achieved the highest pass completion rate (86.4 per cent) than in each of their past eight campaigns.
Whereas Jurgen Klopp’s style was more end-to-end and seemed to create more jeopardy, Slot’s has been to ensure his players maintain control as much as possible during matches. Liverpool being counter-attacked and caught short at the back has been a fairly rare occurrence this season.
Slot has them playing the percentages more than ever. It is informative to observe his touchline manner; the Dutchman’s most animated gestures derive from his team trying to force things. Simplicity and perseverance will often be rewarded appears to be the mantra.
That is easier said than done when so many of Liverpool’s opponents have set-up with deep defences, surrendering possession in an effort to frustrate Slot’s team. Still, that the 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in September is the only league game so far in which they have failed to score underlines how successful their approach has been.
The expectation was that Liverpool would have more possession this season but, in reality, they have not. The key difference being how they have used the ball when with it. Roughly put, the number of short passes are up and longer passes are down. Less risk, more restraint.
Slot Snr still not completely won over
Unsure whether to take Liverpool being described as ‘professional’ as a compliment, Slot admitted that despite winning 26 of 33 matches — leaving them top of the Premier League and Champions League and in both cup competitions — the more patient approach has not been to all tastes, including his father, Arend.
Asked about the less risky style, Slot said: “That is difficult for fans and my father is a fan as well. When I called him after the game [Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Lille] he says: ‘Ah, it wasn’t as exciting as other games of Liverpool’. I had to try to explain to him [in] these games you can easily lose if you are starting to force all kinds of difficult balls, but he’s not always agreeing with me.
“As a manager I was quite happy with our performance against Lille as they were well organised as a team and I think there was one moment in the game I can remember Curtis [Jones] tried to play, from the halfway line, a bit of a ball that had a bit of risk and we lost that ball and they counter-attacked us. So that is the risk you have if you play against a low-block team.
“Forest is probably the best in the league if you play these stupid balls — I call them stupid balls — which my father would love to see us playing a bit more. That is the risk of them creating much more chances and it is a difficult balance of taking the risk and conceding a lot or having control and not creating as much.”
Ipswich’s visit to Anfield on Saturday will likely be another test of Liverpool’s perseverance. Kieran McKenna’s side are in the relegation zone courtesy of goal difference, often cede possession to opponents but do have players such as Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap who can drive forward.
“Against this team, going 1-0 down like we have seen against Forest is even a bigger problem especially against a low block,” Slot added.
“It is a balance we have to find and I understand it is difficult for fans who come to the stadium to see us winning, but hopefully also scoring a lot of goals in an exciting match. But you need two teams for that, and the better we do the less likely it is teams come to Anfield and say: ‘OK, let’s go to a high press and press them all over the pitch.’”
Playing to Slot’s tempo rather than the wishes of the gallery has not done Liverpool any harm thus far.
