Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Galatasaray offers Arne Slot the chance to eclipse Sir Kenny Dalglish for best start as a manager at Liverpool.
It feels like Slot has been on Merseyside far longer than his 99 games.
In that time, Liverpool fans have experienced the highs of a Premier League title and the lows of losing nine out of 12 games earlier this season.
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Arne Slot in the Champions League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
But whatever your stance on the Dutchman, he has the chance to surpass one of the great Liverpool managers, Kenny Dalglish, with a win in Istanbul — a 63rd win in his first 100 games.
Arne Slot limps to the finish line vs Kenny Dalglish
To even be mentioned in the same breath as Dalglish is an achievement; to potentially better his win rate is almost unthinkable, given the scrutiny Liverpool have been under.
The road to 100 hasn’t been a smooth one.
That harrowing winter run earlier this season, where nine losses in 12 threatened to derail the Slot era entirely, makes this impending milestone even more impressive.
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Liverpool Champions League Premier League
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In reality, Slot should have this record wrapped up long ago. The rate at which Liverpool were winning last season would have gotten him to 63 by Christmas. But the losses started coming, and they kept coming.
It’s a testament to both Slot and the players that they are still performing better than Liverpool sides of the past, even if some of the outside noise would suggest the Dutchman has been a disaster.
The Liverpool boss probably won’t be thinking about Liverpool history when he reaches the dugout on Tuesday. He’ll be more concerned about the scoreline, hoping to come back to Anfield with an advantage over Galatasaray.
Slot sees Galatasaray as a different challenge to any other away fixture due to the hostile atmosphere their fans are so good at creating. If he is to pass Dalglish as the best Liverpool manager after 100 games, it will be a hard-fought win — not a walk in the park.
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