As Arne Slot continues to endure the most challenging period of his Liverpool premiership so far, one of his close friends has offered a fresh perspective on the Dutchman
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool v Crystal Palace, EFL Carabao Cup, Fourth Round, Football, Anfield, Liverpool, UK - 29 Oct 2025
Arne Slot is going through a tense period at Liverpool(Image: Photo by Matt West/Shutterstock)
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Arne Slot's close friend Marcel van der Kraan has insisted the Liverpool manager will steer the club back on track.
The 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the League Cup was the Reds' sixth defeat in seven matches across all competitions. Before Palace began the run with a last-minute 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, Liverpool were enjoying a 100% record in all competitions.
Slot's side began this weekend's fixtures in seventh position. However, despite the pressure piling on the Dutchman's shoulders, his good friend and Dutch football expert Van der Kraan insists Slot has the temperament to drag his side out of the rut they are in.
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Van der Kraan said to the Daily Mail: “It is a new one (Slot struggling). But I am looking at him in every interview, and on the touchline, to try and discover if there is a change in his behaviour, character or actions.
“I know him really well and I have to say, there is not the slightest change. He is calm, composed, absolutely not in panic mode, exactly how I know him and I do not expect him to panic either, or to change.
“This guy is so confident about what he is doing. This makes me think he will turn it around. I don't have doubts. The only managers I know with the same self-confidence are Cruyff and Guardiola.
“I worked (as a football writer) closely with Cruyff in the 1980s and 1990s and could not believe how cool he was under any circumstances. And all three… Cruyff, Pep, Arne, have this same style of football.”
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks dejected after Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace (not pictured) scored his team's second goal during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on October 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Slot was a frustrated figure at Anfield
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Before Villa's visit, Slot revealed in his press conference he spoke with Reds' chief executive Michael Edwards after the loss to Palace at Anfield, but insisted this is a regular meeting. He said: "They say similar things. I speak mainly to Richard and once in a while to the others.
"They also see similar things as what I see. For me the conversations haven’t changed a lot. We always talk about the game and it’s always nicer to talk about the game if you have won than if you have lost.”
Slot maintained his laid back demeanour in his press conference. Looking at his behaviour, Van der Kraan insists the ex-Feyenoord manager will not change. He added: "Slot is calm, composed, absolutely not in panic mode, exactly how I know him. And I do not expect him to change.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool v Crystal Palace, EFL Carabao Cup, Fourth Round, Football, Anfield, Liverpool, UK - 29 Oct 2025
Slot desperately needs Liverpool's form to turn around(Image: Photo by Matt West/Shutterstock)
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"They love all this building up, tiki taka some call it, but lots of movement and high pressure. And all three of them have always realised you get punished now and again.
"A massive counter-attack defeat, exposed by the space behind the defence on the halfway line. It happened to Cruyff with Ajax and Barca, it happened to Pep and it happened to Arne.
"Don't forget Arne is a massive fan of the Cruyff school. They just accept these moments, however for Arne it is going on too long of course now. That is what makes it tense, but he won’t change a thing.”