Arne Slot’s Liverpool are the real deal and haven’t been ‘gifted’ Premier League title

When Liverpool were faced with the prospect of replacing one of the most legendary managers in the club’s illustrious history last year, few would have expected that his replacement would handle the responsibility with total control.

Jurgen Klopp was revered as a demigod by fans around the world. His every word – on football, politics, philosophy and beyond – was hung on by those he enthralled, while his squad of players clearly adored him and excelled under his tutorship.

But now Arne Slot – a man with no coaching experience outside of his native Netherlands, a completely unremarkable CV as a player, and the face of a moderately successful darts player – has led the Reds to the Premier League title at a canter, becoming only the fourth coach to do so in his first season in the competition.

The 46-year-old has achieved the feat, which the likes of Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger and Klopp himself were unable to manage, by harnessing what his predecessor left behind for him and turning it into a ruthlessly smart, efficient, winning machine.

Why have Slot’s Liverpool been so good?

Tactically, this is not a team that has so much been ‘built’ by Slot as it has been refined by him, honed in a perfect series of directions that have propelled it forward while rivals have stagnated or regressed.

Liverpool still set up in a shape not dissimilar to Klopp’s old 4-3-3, but Slot has tweaked the system in a few key ways.

Having been pushed out towards the touchline in Klopp’s final two years, the wide forwards are now playing more narrowly, meaning Mohamed Salah has spent far more time in the penalty area. The subtle change to the Egyptian’s positioning has hugely contributed to his glorious campaign, which will go down as one of the best ever produced by a single player in English football.

In possession, Slot’s Liverpool have been far happier to bide their time and work the ball repeatedly from side to side around the edge of the penalty area looking for an opening. Less bombastic than before, the approach has nonetheless borne fruit – the Reds have scored ten more goals than any other side.

At the back, the Reds have ridded themselves of their tendency to concede the opening goal in matches, as had become far too common in Klopp’s final year.

The reverting of Trent Alexander-Arnold back to a more traditional overlapping full-back as opposed to an auxiliary midfielder has helped with that, while the improved management of Ibrahima Konate’s fitness means his partnership with Virgil van Dijk has been steadfastly consistent.

The Dutchman, like Salah signed up for another two years at Anfield, has delivered one of the most flawless campaigns since his arrival seven years ago, while the marked improvement in the performances of Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo under compatriot Slot is surely no coincidence either.

Have Liverpool been gifted the title by rivals?

In truth, Liverpool have been almost certain to win the Premier League since they beat Manchester City at Anfield in December. That win sent them 11 clear of the holders, and nine ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea.

To call the following months a title race would be far too kind to those behind, none of whom could reasonably be described as ‘in pursuit’ at any stage. Even Arsenal, whose ‘challenge’ lasted longest of all, have not won more than three league games in a row all season long.

Both City and Arsenal have suffered injury-hit campaigns. But by the time Rodri was ruled out for the season, and before Bukayo Saka endured his long spell on the sidelines, there were already clear deficiencies in both teams’ setups. City were laboured and lacklustre through the middle of the pitch, while Arsenal lacked a clinical centre forward.

Meanwhile, Slot’s Liverpool had already earned a points advantage so strong that they were in a commanding position. Matches against tough opponents were expertly managed so that not only were three points earned the majority of the time, but players were able to rest and reduce the risks of injuries during some matches as the Reds turned them into keep-ball exercises.

That control of matches is something which has defined this Liverpool season, and is the reason that – regardless of their rivals’ flaws – they have undoubtedly earned their crown on merit.

The Reds have tallied ten more expected goals than any other Premier League side, while also conceding fewer expected goals than anybody else, including the notoriously resolute Gunners. Combine being the best team at creating goalscoring chances with being the best at restricting those created by the opposition, and it cannot be argued that you’re a class above the rest of the field.

The idea that this is a weaker Premier League than previous seasons, and that Slot’s Liverpool have merely taken advantage of that, is inherently illogical too.

This is a division in which 17 of the teams possess multiple players with enough talent to play in the latter stages of the Champions League – just look at the clubs linked with the likes of Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus for evidence.

While City and Arsenal have often struggled to handle the genuine quality of teams like Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Aston Villa, Liverpool have lost only twice all season, picking up points at a rate of around 2.4 per game.

What is next for Arne Slot’s Liverpool?

A 20^th league title means Slot has ensured that Liverpool are once again the most successful team in English football history, equalling Manchester United’s domestic tally while boasting double the number of European Cup successes.

That Liverpool already possess such a deep squad, including at least one genuinely world-class player in each of area of the pitch, means that with further recruitment they should be aiming to add to at least one of those headline tallies next season.

Slot’s demeanour may be stoic and understated, but the party he has unleashed in Liverpool less than 12 months since his arrival is the exact opposite.

If his first season is anything to by, that contrast of Slot’s superpowered sangfroid and Liverpool fans’ unabashed exuberance could become a potent force for years to come.