Four months into his reign as head coach of Liverpool, Arne Slot has impressed in his handling of the daunting task of succeeding Jürgen Klopp. Going into the November international break of the 2024/25 season, Slot’s team had won 15 out of 17 games in all competitions. That left them top of the Premier League by five points, top of the Champions League’s new league-phase format, with four wins from four, and through to the EFL Cup quarter finals. The only blot on his copybook was a 1-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s initial run of games under Slot were – by his own admission – not the most difficult, if judged by the standing of the opposition. But as autumn progressed and the fixtures became more challenging, his team continued to deliver performances and results. While no major silverware is won in the first months of the season, the old adage says that it can be lost. Slot certainly managed to avoid that with his start to life at Anfield.
There could also be no doubt that he inherited a very good team from his predecessor. Indeed, Liverpool made only one signing before kicking off Slot’s first season in charge. Even then, the player signed for a modest fee was Federico Chiesa. The Italian is a talented but injury-plagued attacker who played a total of just 78 minutes – 59 of those in the EFL Cup – in Slot’s first 17 games. As such, it has been fascinating to observe how Liverpool’s new coach has gone about managing a team assembled by Klopp.
Below, our expert team of UEFA-licensed coaches have carefully analysed the tactical approach Slot has taken with Liverpool, including the nuances that differentiate his team from Klopp’s.
The front line
In Slot’s first 11 Premier League games with Liverpool, his team recorded the third-highest average possession (56.8 per cent) in the division. This was certainly not possession for possession’s sake, with Slot’s side pushing players forward – specifically into the front line – as part of a positive, forward-thinking approach with the ball. As such, they ranked third in that period for total passes into the final third, behind only Manchester City and Tottenham. They were also second for progressive passes – those designed to take teammates closer to the opposition's goal. These were all key characteristics of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool teams; Slot wasted no time in tapping into them.
From an initial 4-2-3-1 with the ball, Slot’s wingers – usually Mohamed Salah and one of Luis Díaz or Cody Gakpo – maintained the width. That put them in positions to attack opponents 1v1 as often as possible, with Salah (57) and Díaz (45) in the Premier League’s top 30 for total dribbles. The single centre-forward – either Diogo Jota, with his subtle positioning, or Darwin Núñez and his ability to pin and occupy – created space for number-eight runs by high and central midfielders (Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister, below). Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, played as the deepest pivot. There, he supported the two centre-backs in the build, especially against a compact low block.
Against a higher block, where space was available beyond, the midfield players – and Jones in particular – also exploited the opposition’s back line with central runs from deep. Dominik Szoboszlai provided a similar threat, although he is better suited to moving wide as he runs, or positioning higher and working around Salah.
Slot’s Liverpool have had fluidity in the inside-channel spaces, keeping them open for various players to move into. The full-backs – two from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley – moved slightly inside to support passes into the high, central players, while also acting as cover for attacking central midfielders. They also had licence to drop into more traditional full-back positions, as well as get forward down the flanks. Alexander-Arnold in particular moved into differing roles from where he could utilise his penetrative passing. He ranked joint-sixth for passes into the final third after 11 games of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
The importance of Mohamed Salah
Getting the best out of Liverpool has typically meant getting the best out of Salah, which Slot certainly did in his initial games as head coach. After 11 league appearances under Slot, Salah had the most goal involvements (14) in the top flight – eight goals and six assists. His ability to come in off the line, with or without the ball, was as notable in those games under Slot as it was during Klopp’s long tenure. In addition, his teammates’ supporting movements – around, behind and ahead – appeared to have been orchestrated by Slot to allow him to dominate the right inside channel.
The detail of Salah’s final-third passing has perhaps been an underrated part of his game, particularly his passing and crossing into the penalty area. Not so by Slot, with movement encouraged around Salah that allowed the Egyptian to create for others, often with crosses. Decoy runs by the closest number eight – best performed by Szoboszlai – helped Salah to isolate the opposing full-back and limit opponents from doubling up on him as he receives (below).
From there, Liverpool’s numbers in the front line gave Salah options to combine with, or teammates to create for. Runs from the other side of the pitch from Díaz or Gakpo, or more central runs from deep via Jones, provided him with enough options and variety to punish teams. This was the case both on transition – where Salah is particularly dangerous – and when breaking a block after a sustained spell of Liverpool possession. At centre-forward, Jota and Núñez’s movements from left to right also linked well with Salah, as he moved inside with the ball.
With the inside channel often vacant for players to move into, Salah was also able to receive in this area from a consistent supply of passes. Alexander-Arnold’s passing range helped Liverpool’s number 11 to penetrate beyond from a wide starting position, while left-sided centre-back Virgil van Dijk also provided regular service.
These two defenders had played the most long passes for Liverpool after 11 Premier League games – 103 by Alexander Arnold (the eighth most in the division) and 66 by Van Dijk (30th). They had also passed into the final third more than anyone else in the Liverpool team – 100 such passes from Alexander-Arnold, and 99 for Van Dijk – which was an important supply for Salah. The latter’s double movements, manipulation of opponents in a 1v1, and sheer desire to outrun markers, helped him to begin the Slot era in a rich vein of form. Slot’s organisation of Liverpool’s attack, meanwhile, got the best out of his main match-winner.
Defending in a 4-2-4
As well as occasionally using a 4-2-4 during attacking play, Slot also utilised this shape in the press and when Liverpool were in a more reserved mid-block. In those opening 11 games, Liverpool ranked joint-third for challenge intensity in the Premier League; they averaged 5.7 duels, tackles and interceptions per minute of opponent possession. They also had the fourth-lowest PPDA score, which indicated a preference to press and duel for possession. While not the extremely aggressive high-pressing of the Klopp era, Slot’s Liverpool have jumped with purpose, from a set block or when reacting to a loss of possession, when opponents progress forward slightly.
In their 4-2-4 shape, Slot’s side often had one of their central midfielders push higher to work alongside the centre-forward. Both wingers then narrowed, helping to cut off passes played on the outside shoulder of the front pair (below). This particular movement helped to limit opposing number eights from supporting on the angle, widening slightly to receive safe-side, and potentially rolling Liverpool’s midfield pair. Szoboszlai was often the one to join the first line when defending, leaving Mac Allister and Gravenberch as the deeper pair.
Mac Allister and Gravenberch excelled in this adapted defensive role, with the Argentine ranked 23rd in the Premier League for total defensive duels (82) and his teammate 28th (78). The Dutchman was also 13th for total interceptions (57), as his and Mac Allister’s energy, timing and overall defensive presence protected central spaces underneath the front line. When regaining the ball, the pair also showed a calm range of passing, to quickly and purposefully feed forward runners.
On the transition
Not only did Slot’s 4-2-4 block contribute to conceding only six league goals in the opening 11 fixtures; it also helped with creating the attack. Notably, Liverpool maintained the ability they had under Klopp to create chances within a 15-second period of regaining possession, whether inside the opposition half or regaining closer to their own goal. Indeed, in home wins against Aston Villa and Brentford, Slot’s team scored from passages of play that began with defending a corner.
By the November international break, Liverpool had scored nine open-play goals within 15 seconds of regaining possession. In the game at Manchester United, in particular, they demonstrated a defensive compactness around the halfway line that left them ready to pounce forward. Salah and Díaz were outstanding in 1v1 moments in this game, especially with space and momentum to use (below).
Salah has arguably been the best winger in the Premier League on transitional moments, and played a key role in Klopp’s successes. Slot immediately played to Salah’s strengths, allowing him to remain in the first line as long as possible, from where he could seriously threaten on attacking transitions.
The Dutch coach also complemented Salah’s direct and diagonal movements off the ball, towards the opposition goal, with the players he selected around him. Jota, playing as a converted centre-forward, has often been keen to drop towards the ball. In doing so, he helps to disrupt or pull a centre-back with him, freeing space for Salah to run or drive into. Szoboszlai in a high starting position has had a similar effect, while the Hungarian’s runs beyond can help push back defenders during transitional moments. This then allows Salah to receive between the lines, or run across the face of goal. Díaz on the left also gives Liverpool a dangerous option on transition, reminiscent of what they had with Sadio Mané.
While there are similarities between Klopp and Slot’s Liverpool teams, not least the same players, there are also subtle differences. Ultimately, though, Slot will be hoping he can replicate his predecessor where it really counts: by bringing the game’s biggest prizes back to Anfield.
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