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

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 activity 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 thus far received 2-0 at newly-promoted Ipswich City and 3-0 at rivals Manchester United, sandwiching a 2-0 house win in opposition to Brentford to depart them degree on factors with champions Metropolis on the prime of the desk, albeit in second place on targets 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 instructed Sky Sports activities after watching Liverpool dismantle United at Previous 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 be aware of warning for Slot and Co.

Arne Slots straight in at Anfield

When Slot was introduced as Klopp’s successor in Could, many thought of it the not possible job making an attempt to exchange the enduring German, who had received nearly each trophy doable throughout his close to decade-long tenure on Merseyside.

Not solely that, however because the summer season months ticked by, it quickly turned clear the brand new man’s sizeable activity 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 function.

Hughes, who additionally joined the membership this summer season, did his due diligence on Slot and what impressed most from his time in cost at Feyenoord was his capability 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.

Fairly, he has made refined 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.

Fashion-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 have now nonetheless seen the famed Gegenpressing that was a trademark of the earlier supervisor, resembling with Luis Diaz’s devastating counter-attacking strike after defending a nook in opposition to Brentford.

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

“Slot will be pleased, he said. “There isn’t any doubt there would have been a lot of questions requested had Liverpool not obtained 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 rapidly 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 steel vs percussion soccer

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

Final season, the Reds saved simply 10 Premier League clear sheets and conceded on common 1.08 targets a recreation, whereas extremely for a aspect difficult for the title, in addition 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 thus far this season, already this appears to be like like an space Slot has labored on over the summer season, with apparent outcomes.

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

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

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

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

“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 may very well be higher suited to a title cost this season.

“Last season was a rollercoaster ride for supporters,” stated the previous Liverpool captain. “Late targets, 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 not possible. 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’ medical edge

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

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

Diaz has began the season on fireplace with three targets and an help to his identify 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 fee 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 deal with after his father’s kidnapping in Colombia.

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

In reality, in three conferences with United final season, Liverpool had a mind-boggling 62 photographs on purpose, scoring simply 5 occasions, whereas they netted 3 times from simply 11 efforts of their current win there, demonstrating a extra medical edge in entrance of purpose as a workforce basically.

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

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

Zubimendi rejection forgotten because of Gravenberch emergence

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

So when Zubimendi, their solely goal for the function, 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 current man-of-the-match show at Previous 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 an alternative he likes them to be athletic ball gamers who after profitable again possession, can then get in regards to the pitch and help assaults.

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

Once more, because the scientists say, it’s only a small pattern dimension, with far more durable assessments to return within the function than Ipswich, Brentford and a lacklustre and malfunctioning United, however thus far 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 choose 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 accordance with 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 tough 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 throughout the 32-year-old’s three years working with Slot in Rotterdam they loved a outstanding 90 per-cent-plus plus participant availability degree.

And the early indicators look promising, with Slot thus far 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 accordance with 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 every week.

‘Nonetheless rather a lot to show’

Nonetheless, 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 checklist to start the season, not having to face any of final season’s prime six till Chelsea go to Anfield on October 20, stay on Sky Sports activities.

Liverpool have additionally not needed to play a couple of recreation every week thus far, a schedule that now modifications with the introduction of each the Champions League and Carabao Cup, which means the Dutchman should 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 stated after beating United.

“I do not wish to be the one which spoils all the things 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 thus far, 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 current England Beneath-21 obligation with a fractured foot that can sideline him till late October.

Nonetheless, Slot can solely beat the groups put in entrance of him and given the assured begin he has made to the seemingly not possible job of changing a Liverpool managerial icon, then there isn’t any purpose to not view the Reds as real title contenders this season.