Has Arne Slot Silenced the Critics After Liverpool’s Resurgence? | OneFootball

Has Arne Slot Finally Won Over the Pundits?

With an impressive start to the 2024/25 season, the outlook for Liverpool’s remainder of the season looks promising. Holding top positions in both the Premier League and Champions League, it’s time to reflect on the Reds’ progress as they approach the halfway point and consider the potential outcomes of this intriguing campaign. The appointment of Anfield head coach Arne Slot raised many questions among the passionate fanbase, while pundits outside the club largely agreed that the six-time European champions would fall short of competing at the highest level in English football. Most pre-season predictions favoured teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and even Manchester United—an opinion famously supported by Gary Neville—over a Liverpool side adapting after the departure of legendary manager Jürgen Klopp. Reflecting on this, it seems a reassessment is in order.

What Has Been the Catalyst for Such Success?

As a parting gift, Klopp oversaw the initial phase of a much-needed transition in the squad during his final season, which notably reshaped the midfield. Despite a successful bounce-back campaign and an EFL Cup victory in 2023/24, it was clear that greater coordination was necessary to fully integrate the team. By appointing Arne Slot, the former Feyenoord manager, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes chose to think outside the box and pursue a candidate not previously speculated upon. It might have been easier for them to hand a large contract to former Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, but his inclination to remain in the Bundesliga suited all parties in the end. The allure of Real Madrid will likely see the Spanish manager migrate to La Liga soon, while Alonso’s relative inexperience was likely a disadvantage in securing the role.

Ruben Amorim, the new Manchester United manager, was seen as a strong candidate following his successful spell at Sporting Lisbon. Although his credentials made him an appealing choice, his personality and the structure of his previous team may have made his appointment challenging. It appears that only one candidate was truly considered to succeed Klopp, which may be the most critical decision made since Klopp himself arrived on Merseyside in 2015.

Success can be measured in various ways, with key player performances being critical to overall achievement. These high levels of performance can only be reached with exceptional coaching, which has been firmly provided by the 46-year-old Dutchman, Arne Slot. He expertly sets his team up and has emerged as one of the most efficient in-game tacticians in the English top tier. While outside pundits may have initially dismissed him due to a lack of knowledge, the data-driven executives at the AXA Training Centre clearly understood his capabilities, which have likely now converted his critics.

Is Arne Slot the Manager of the Season?

Based on the first half of the season, several candidates emerge for the Manager of the Season award. Chelsea’s tactical innovator, Enzo Maresca, deserves credit for successfully coordinating a squad of high-caliber players in West London. Marco Silva continues to excel as Fulham’s manager, while Bournemouth appears poised for long-term success in the Premier League, provided they can retain their current manager. Andoni Iraola, the manager brought in to revitalise the Cherries’ ambitions, was chosen by Hughes during his previous role as Technical Director.

Currently, despite the impressive performances from other candidates, I would identify Nottingham Forest’s overachieving manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, as the only one who could rival Liverpool’s Arne Slot. In the coming weeks and months, we will see if each can maintain their impressive form; however, given the undeniable talent within the Anfield squad and the relentless efforts of their head coach, it seems likely that Liverpool could dominate both on and off the pitch.