At the end of the season, one of the most special Premier League managers is leaving the club. Jürgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool FC after 9 years. He is the longest lasting Premier League manager and leaves the club having won at least 1 of everything. In what is considered as ‘The Klopp era’ his honours may seem underwhelming, but if you know football, you know the impact this man has had on the club and the league, and competing with 115 charges oil-infused Manchester City isn’t an easy task. Being a Liverpool fan, it hurst to see Klopp leave, but in a season where our football has been underwhelming and with little structure, I think that the time has come for his to wave of the brilliant project he has been working on. In comes the replacement, Arne Slot.

 

Slot is a 45 year old Dutch manager, with experience in Holland with AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord. In his current season with Feyenoord he has finished 2nd , with 3 games to go. Last season he won the Eredivisie. He has many different ideas which could all be used next season at Anfield. One of which is the movement of players positions. For example, 5ft6 midfielder Jordy Clasie moved into centre back at AZ Alkmaar, or Calvin Stengs, moved from Right Winge to an attacking number 8. He shows the likes of Pep Guardiola, with the Spaniard having done similar things, such as the movement of Mascherano from midfield to defence. Lutsharel Geetruida is another example that shows Slotts inner-Pep. Having been a natural Right-Back, he was moved to Centre Half last year and had the season of his life. Now this season, he is thriving at Left Back. This is an exact representation of someone like Manuel Akanji. Akanji is a natural Centre Back, but has found form at both Left and Right back, as well as in midfield. Somone like Joe Gomez could be this experimental figure, given that he has played in all 4 positions this season, or will Slott find someone else to play out of position.


The Lineup and gameplan. Slott follows a 4-3-3 formation. The defensive three see, pretty simple, consisting of Alisson, Konate and Van Dijk. These three have pretty simple roles, unlike those in the system of Ruben Amorin or Pep Guardiola. The fullbacks. Slott’s fullback are quite defensive. They are usually inverted, and so Trent Alexander-Arnold seems like a great fit, despite his lacking defensive approach. However, we know Slott likes to change players, positions around, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Conor Bradley in that role. Slott likes an asymmetric defence. Like Arteta and Pep, he prefers Centre Backs at Left Back, which is where we would see Joe Gomez to create that three.

In the midfield, the 6 role is very important. All of the play goes through this player. There needs to be someone who has availability to receive the ball, which can allow the two other players to push slightly further forward, as well as having someone with a brilliant passing range. And so Alexis Mac Allister seems suited to this role, and where someone like Endo is a brilliant defensive midfielder, but this role is all about being technically excellent and control tempo, which Mac Allister is good at. For the other two roles, the left sided midfielder starts in the middle, but pushes out wide a bit, whereas the right sided one stays quite wide. On the left, in attack the player is a 10, and in midfield plays as an 8. As so the perfect option is Szoboszlai, this role is almost built for him, who has the skillset in his arsenal to pull off this role and thrive at it. On the right side, two players seem suited for this role. One is Harvey Elliot. Another, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both are quite suited, and like going slightly wider to affect the game. Slott is definitely the type of Manager to test out TAA in a different role, and one that could unlock a lot of creativity. Feyenoords Calvin Stengs completed the second most crosses for the club this season, and so the role seems brilliant for Trent.

The Attack. High pressing and a crucial part to Slott’s game. The Right winger stays quite wide and sometimes comes more central. The Left winger is free to do whatever. Feyenoord’s Igor Paixao is one of the best in the league, and he has the most crosses for the club. He also comes central and his role can vary from game to game. The Striker needs high football IQ and someone who can take part in the build-up. On the Left, Luis Diaz seems fitting, given his current freedom, he is suited to this role. The Right could see Salah, should he stay at the club. Striker; Nunez doesn’t have the composure and finesse that Slott is used to, and I don’t think he is really the best choice in this position. However, Cody Gakpo does. He has the ability to drop deep, but does he have the cutting edge to fit this role. Or do Liverpool need to go and sign someone in the summer who fits this role. Viktor Gyokeres fits it perfectly…