Are Arne Slot’s Liverpool Premier League title contenders this season? | Soccer Information

Arne Slot has made the proper begin to his time in cost at Anfield, main some to recommend Liverpool might even problem for this season’s Premier League – so how distant are the Reds from really competing with Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal?

The Dutchman took on the unenviable job of changing Jurgen Klopp within the Liverpool dugout in June however already he has damaged information by turning into the primary supervisor within the membership’s historical past to win their first three top-flight matches with out conceding.

The Reds have up to now gained 2-0 at newly-promoted Ipswich City and 3-0 at rivals Manchester United, sandwiching a 2-0 house win towards Brentford to go away them stage on factors with champions Metropolis on the high of the desk, albeit in second place on objectives scored.

And that spectacular begin to the marketing campaign, albeit solely three video games, has led Jamie Carragher to say his former aspect could also be real title challengers this season.

“What this does is give the supporters and the players real belief,” he informed Sky Sports activities after watching Liverpool dismantle United at Outdated Trafford earlier than the worldwide break.

“The majority of the players have won everything there is to win, it gives them real belief in a manager moving forward that maybe this team is closer to challenging for the league title than many people think.”

Because the Premier League returns to motion this weekend, we check out why there are actual grounds for optimism forward for Reds followers this season, in addition to sounding a observe of warning for Slot and Co.

Arne Slots straight in at Anfield

When Slot was introduced as Klopp’s successor in Might, many thought of it the unattainable job making an attempt to switch the enduring German, who had gained virtually each trophy doable throughout his close to decade-long tenure on Merseyside.

Not solely that, however because the summer time months ticked by, it quickly grew to become clear the brand new man’s sizeable job wouldn’t be aided by any new signings after the Reds missed out on their No 1 switch goal, Actual Sociedad holding midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

However having simply handed his first 100 days in cost, the 45-year-old has seemingly made a pitch-perfect begin to Reds reign, though that won’t have stunned sporting director Richard Hughes, who earmarked him for the position.

Hughes, who additionally joined the membership this summer time, did his due diligence on Slot and what impressed most from his time in cost at Feyenoord was his skill to enhance gamers by working with them on the coaching floor – he’s an actual tracksuit supervisor – and his tactical acumen [see the switching of Dominik Szoboszlai’s position at Old Trafford].

Slot has additionally been wise by resisting the urge to make sweeping modifications to a workforce that have been nonetheless chasing a quadruple as late as final April, as can so usually be the case when a brand new supervisor is available in.

Slightly, he has made delicate little tweaks to the workforce form, with two No 6s now employed in entrance of the again 4, and personnel, with Diogo Jota most well-liked to Darwin Nunez because the central striker.

Type-wise, although, there have been some noticeable modifications from the Klopp period which we are going to have a look at, however on the identical time we now have nonetheless seen the famed Gegenpressing that was an indicator of the earlier supervisor, resembling with Luis Diaz’s devastating counter-attacking strike after defending a nook towards Brentford.

And whereas there have actually been no fist pumps at full time, or pulled hamstrings after charging down touchlines berating officers, Carragher believes it’s critical the brand new man has made such an assured begin to his Reds profession with the intention to quell these preliminary, albeit comprehensible, doubts.

“Slot will be pleased, he said. “There is no such thing as a doubt there would have been numerous questions requested had Liverpool not acquired off to begin.

“Those questions of Jurgen Klopp and these group of players – who have won everything – league titles, European cups, domestic cup competitions.

“You wish to put that narrative to mattress as shortly as you presumably can, [and show] that these gamers are bedding in and listening and studying from this new supervisor and shopping for into his strategies going ahead.

“So it does help, having this good start that Slot has had.”

Heavy metallic vs percussion soccer

Klopp’s model of high-octane soccer, or heavy metallic as he favored to name it, was thrilling on the attention however got here with big dangers.

Final season, the Reds stored simply 10 Premier League clear sheets and conceded on common 1.08 objectives a recreation, whereas extremely for a aspect difficult for the title, additionally they fell 1-0 behind on 16 events.

In the end, that was unsustainable so far as a profitable title problem was involved and whereas we’re solely coping with a tiny pattern dimension of three matches up to now this season, already this seems to be like an space Slot has labored on over the summer time, with apparent outcomes.

In addition to the truth that Liverpool have but to let in a aim this season, they’re additionally going through on common much less pictures, together with on track, much less quick breaks, large probabilities conceded and excessive turnovers towards per recreation.

The Reds’ passing accuracy can also be up, as proven towards Brentford once they accomplished 92 per cent of their passes, their highest determine in over 20 years, because the Dutchman seems to be for extra management in video games.

“We look a bit more secure defensively,” mentioned Andy Robertson of the Reds’ 3-0 win at United. “We had a lot more control in our game today.

“A clear sheet is very large. To come back away to your large rivals like Manchester United and maintain a clear sheet is very large.

“We look a bit more secure defensively. They always say clean sheets will win you things and that’s always been the case when Manchester City have won the league and when we did. Three games without a goal conceded is really good and we want to keep that going.”

“They always say clean sheets will win you things and that’s always been the case when Manchester City have won the league and when we did. Three games without a goal conceded is really good and we want to keep that going.”

Extra percussion, than heavy-metal soccer, one thing Carragher thinks could possibly be higher suited to a title cost this season.

“Last season was a rollercoaster ride for supporters,” mentioned the previous Liverpool captain. “Late objectives, coming from behind. It felt like each recreation was like a cup closing. Liverpool wanted extra video games like this [vs Brentford] final season.

“That was almost like a Man City performance in that the game felt over when the second goal went in. There wasn’t any jeopardy in the game.

“Slot’s Liverpool aren’t going to be as thrilling as Klopp’s – that is unattainable. Nevertheless it nonetheless would possibly show to be as profitable, if no more profitable than final season. If Liverpool win extra video games like this, 2-0, snug, then it’s going to put them in a fantastic place.”

Lethal Diaz demonstrates Reds’ scientific edge

It’s at each ends of the pitch, nonetheless, that Slot seems to have made enhancements, maybe finest illustrated by Diaz’s spectacular shows on the left-hand aspect of the assault.

The Colombian was not sure to start out the season given Cody Gakpo’s eye-catching performances for the Netherlands on the Euros, however Slot opted for him regardless of summer time hypothesis about his future and he has been rewarded for his religion.

Diaz has began the season on hearth with three objectives and an help to his title within the opening three league video games, in distinction to the earlier marketing campaign when it took him till November to succeed in that quantity – his shot conversion price is up from a miserly 8.5 per cent in 2023/24 to 37.5 per cent this marketing campaign – albeit with off-the-field household issues to take care of after his father’s kidnapping in Colombia.

Two of these objectives got here at Outdated Trafford, with that scientific attacking show in full distinction to Liverpool’s two journeys there in March and April when their profligacy in entrance of aim noticed them dumped out of the FA Cup and lose the initiative within the title race respectively.

Actually, in three conferences with United final season, Liverpool had a mind-boggling 62 pictures on aim, scoring simply 5 occasions, whereas they netted 3 times from simply 11 efforts of their latest win there, demonstrating a extra scientific edge in entrance of aim as a workforce on the whole.

Because of this, Liverpool’s conversion price is up from 10.9 per cent below Klopp final season to 14.6 per cent this marketing campaign, as is their large probability conversion price from 38.3 per cent to 43.8 per cent, with the stats bearing out that whereas metrics resembling pictures, excessive turnovers and direct assaults might all been down on common this season, the vital numbers like objectives per recreation, touches within the opposition field and quick breaks are all up.

And that may solely bode properly so far as a doable title problem this season is worried.

Zubimendi rejection forgotten due to Gravenberch emergence

The one space of the squad Slot recognized as needing strengthening on his arrival was the No 6 position, a place Liverpool have been making an attempt to recruit for for the reason that summer time of 2022.

So when Zubimendi, their solely goal for the position, opted to remain at Sociedad on the eve of the brand new season, the prevailing knowledge was the Reds couldn’t now compete with Metropolis and Arsenal for the title.

Quick ahead a month, nonetheless, and Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence as a reputable holding midfielder has altered that considering, particularly after his latest man-of-the-match show at Outdated Trafford when the Netherlands worldwide showcased all of the requisite abilities Slot calls for as a No 6 in his groups.

Slot doesn’t need his defensive midfielders to be destroyers sitting in entrance of the again for placing out fires, as a substitute he likes them to be athletic ball gamers who after profitable again possession, can then get concerning the pitch and help assaults.

This was finest seen in that recreation when Gravenberch was each fast to anticipate Casemiro’s meant go for Kobbie Mainoo within the lead-up to the guests’ first aim, in addition to in the way in which he strode over the midway line – harking back to Patrick Viera in his Arsenal heyday – earlier than powering ahead to the sting of the field and discovering Diaz in area within the transfer that resulted in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s disallowed opening aim.

Once more, because the scientists say, it’s only a small pattern dimension, with far tougher checks to return within the position than Ipswich, Brentford and a lacklustre and malfunctioning United, however up to now the indicators are promising.

Peeters’s efficiency enhance

It may be no coincidence that each Metropolis and Arsenal had the fewest variety of particular person gamers injured final season, permitting them to rotate at essential factors of the marketing campaign and decide their strongest line-ups for the video games that mattered most, whereas in stark distinction solely Tottenham Hotspur misplaced extra gamers to harm (22) than Liverpool (21), in response to premierinjuries.com.

There was even a interval within the second half of the season when Klopp needed to make do with out the likes of key first-team gamers resembling Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Szoboszlai, Alison Becker, Darwin Nunez, Jota and Curtis Jones, the primary three all succumbing to repeat accidents after being rushed again too quickly.

How a lot that finally price Liverpool of their quadruple bid is difficult to say, however it’s one thing Hughes and Slot are decided won’t be repeated this time round and that’s the reason the Dutchman was so decided to convey Ruben Peeters with him from Feyenord.

Peeters, who brings with him to Anfield a grasp’s diploma in sports activities sciences from KU Leuven, was head of bodily efficiency on the Eredivisie membership and in the course of the 32-year-old’s three years working with Slot in Rotterdam they loved a outstanding 90 per-cent-plus plus participant availability stage.

And the early indicators look promising, with Slot up to now solely unable to name upon Jones with a minor muscle twinge within the opening three video games of the season, though the midfielder is now again in coaching.

So given Liverpool misplaced injured gamers for a mixed 1,383 days final season, in response to premierinjuries.com, Peeters’s arrival might show decisive in sustaining any potential title problem this season by permitting Slot to relaxation and rotate, particularly now they are going to be taking part in two video games per week.

‘Nonetheless loads to show’

Nevertheless, regardless of such an encouraging begin to his Liverpool tenure, Slot can also be proper to be cautious.

The Reds have been handed a really beneficial fixture record to start the season, not having to face any of final season’s high six till Chelsea go to Anfield on October 20, reside on Sky Sports activities.

Liverpool have additionally not needed to play multiple recreation per week up to now, a schedule that now modifications with the introduction of each the Champions League and Carabao Cup, that means the Dutchman must begin rotating.

“Three games played – only games from Saturday to Sunday or Sunday to Sunday, so there is still a lot for us to prove if we are going to play Champions League,” he mentioned after beating United.

“I do not wish to be the one which spoils every thing however two years in the past was the final season that we performed Champions League and everyone knows how that season ended. There’s a lot to show for us, if we play the troublesome video games in Champions League and nonetheless be good on the weekend.

“Three games played, the first two with Ipswich and Brentford were difficult opponents, let that be clear, but I said before I am not expecting them to end up in the top nine. A good start, let that be clear, but still a lot to prove.”

And the Reds haven’t had any adversary to face up to now, with Slot’s aspect but to fall behind in a recreation, whereas they’ve additionally had no accidents to set them again.

That can, after all, all change over the approaching months, with Harvey Elliott having already returned from latest England Underneath-21 responsibility with a fractured foot that can sideline him till late October.

Nevertheless, Slot can solely beat the groups put in entrance of him and given the assured begin he has made to the seemingly unattainable job of changing a Liverpool managerial icon, then there is no such thing as a cause to not view the Reds as real title contenders this season.