Arne Slot, the freshly minted head honcho at Liverpool, aims to match the illustrious era of his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
Slot, triumphant with Feyenoord in last year’s KNVB Cup, took the reins in early June as the Reds embark on a post-Klopp chapter. Klopp’s tenure brought home eight trophies over nine years at Anfield.
Last season, Liverpool clinched third place in the Premier League, trailing Manchester City by nine points and Arsenal by seven, and snagged the Carabao Cup in February by toppling Chelsea.
Slot is bullish about his squad’s prospects to vie for top honors this season and hopes to perpetuate Klopp’s legacy which began back in 2015.
“Securing 82 points reflects our style of play. It’s the essence of how we compete,” Slot remarked in his debut interview with the club. “I’ve scrutinized numerous matches and training sessions already.
“The aficionados witness the matches, aware of our stellar lineup. Nonetheless, I’ve had the scoop on more than just the visible; the training grounds are where we forge our culture, where relentless effort is the norm.”
“We’ve got a first-rate team that has consistently performed well. However, we all yearn to elevate Liverpool above last season’s third-place achievement. That’s the gauntlet we’ve picked up – to elevate from our strong foundation,” he added.
“Given our squad, I’m confident. With a few strategic enhancements, hopefully, we can notch more than 82 points, outpacing rivals like Arsenal and City,” Slot expressed confidently.
May saw Slot’s confirmation, with immediate talk highlighting similarities between his and Klopp’s tactical approach.
During the 2024-25 season, Slot’s Feyenoord topped charts in Europe’s premier leagues for reclaiming possession in the final third, closely followed by Liverpool.
“Adopting an assertive, possession-heavy style has likely sparked this opportunity at Anfield,” observed Slot. “Both Guardiola and Klopp have inspired this approach, almost a necessity at a powerhouse club like Feyenoord, focusing on intense engagement and ball retention.”
Liverpool will clash with Real Betis in a pre-season matchup on July 26. Their Premier League season kicks off with an away game against Ipswich Town on August 17.
