Arne Slot has taken over as Liverpool manager to replace Jurgen Klopp. He has a preference for more possession-orientated football than his predecessor, combined with vertically-oriented counter-attacking, which has seen Liverpool top the Premier League table.
Defensively, he has become more solid, and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has improved his opposition and positioning, and is less easily penetrated. He has also started to secure a place in the national team and has developed into a more complete player.
The 26-year-old defender, whose contract has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, spoke candidly about the personality of the Dutch coach in charge at Anfield, who replaced his German mentor, who was also a great general and the player’s mentor.
“His personality is very chilled,”
“The best way to describe it is that things are black and white.”
“They are what they are. There’s not too much emotion that goes into things.”
“At halftime, he’ll come in and tell us exactly, very clearly, how the opposition are playing, how they’re pressing us and the adjustments we need to make.”
“Then it’s kind of ‘just do that and we will win’. That’s literally the message, ‘If we do this in the second half we are going to win the game because this is how we break them down’.”
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They are also the only side in the Champions League to have won six in a row, and are top of the table in the competition’s new format. With two games remaining, they are almost certain to advance to the next round. With a busy schedule, the reserves could be given a chance to start the next round.
Alexander-Arnold revealed that he has absolute confidence in his coach’s skills and game plan, which has produced the best results at the halfway point of the season, and said that mutual understanding is progressing well.
“I think we’re so assured that we’re going to get results in games, I think because we believe so much in the game plan.”
“I think it’s always important, especially under a new manager, to have a relationship that works both ways – which is what we’ve got.”
“He needs to believe in us that we’re good enough to carry out the game plan and go get the results, and understand and apply what he tells us to do.”
“Likewise as players, we need to see that the style of play and tactics are working and will get us results. I think from the first few games we really got that.”
“From then on, when you’ve got the belief flowing both ways it’s always going to be a good journey.”
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