Are Arne Slot's Liverpool better than Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool?

We are in February and Liverpool find themselves in the talk for the “quadruple”. They were in a similar position last season but they fell short. So two questions arise. Can they do it this time and is  Arne Slot’s team better than Jürgen Klopp’s team?

When Klopp gave rise to the Kop

Prior to Klopp’s appointment in 2015, Liverpool went through a period of mediocracy. Rafael Benitez gave the club the champions league in 2005 but other than that it was all doom and gloom. They won only two trophies since that famous night in Istanbul – The 2006 FA cup and the 2012 league cup. This level of success was not enough for a club of Liverpool’s stature.

Even when Klopp first took over questions were asked if he could deliver glory at the club even though his young squad was punching well above their weight. What followed was utterly magnificent. The 2018-19 season proved to be pivotal as Liverpool got 97 points in the league and won the Champions league beating Pochettino’s Spurs 2-0 in the final. Something special was brewing at Anfield.

Over the next 5 years they added 6 trophies to the cabinet but that does not give the full picture of how good that team was. Led by the likes of Jordan Henderson, Virgil Van Dijk and the famous attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino and Mohammed Salah, Liverpool were feared by every team in the world including Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

But they always fell short. Liverpool were very consistent in the league under Klopp but they were unlucky to face Pep Guardiola’s City in the title race which meant that even more than 90 points were not enough to win the league. When Klopp decided to step down in January last year, the team looked rejuvenated. But they ran out of steam in March. Defeats to their fierce rivals Manchester United in the FA cup and Everton in the league meant that Klopp’s last season would not give him a fairytale finish. But one thing is for sure. He left Liverpool with a strong foundation and set the standards at the famous club.

Arne Slot's perfect start to life at Anfield

Whenever a club loses a manager who had such an impact on the club like Klopp, the club goes through a transition period where they take time of reach the heights they were familiar off. Arsenal went through the transition period after Wenger retired, Manchester United have never returned to the heights expected of them since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. But Liverpool haven’t faced a transition period. Arne Slot has got it right since day one and is likely to reap rewards for it with potential silverware.

There are three things that were crucial in Slot’s success - 

1) Not Changing the squad too much - 

Many times a new manager comes in and he wants his own players and there is a lot of change and chopping in the dressing room. It can sometime take time for the squad to blend together and it does not work everytime. Liverpool’s squad was already world-class and Slot knew it. He managed to keep the core intact which made sure the team dynamics remained good.

Arne Slot has Liverpool challenging for the quadruple in his first season in charge

 2) Not changing the philosophy or the style of play - 

Jürgen Klopp played with a rockstar Gegenpressing style. The team was well suited to the style and although Klopp’s final iteration had some issues like getting caught in transition, it was successful. Slot’s team plays the same way but with more tactical flexibility and less emotional decisions on the pitch. These small tactical adjustments have helped the team to become more consistent and harder to play against.

3) Realizing the importance of the job -

 Many managers when they take a big job for the first time don’t realize how big the club is or what it means to the fans. Arne Slot since day one has interacted with the local community, has made himself a fan favourite and has not tried to change the identity of the club (something that many managers try to do and fail). This has proved that he is the correct man for the job.

As Salah keeps on scoring the goals, Dominic Szoboszlai has become a vital player for Liverpool in the engine room and Virgil Van Dijk is still the rock in defence likes he was for Klopp. There have been massive improvements by several players such as Cody Gakpo, Alexis Macallister, Ryan Gravenberch and Luiz Diaz as Arne Slot's team looks like a more tactically refined and controlling Liverpool side than Klopp's.

What next for Slot?

Salah and Trent are out of contract at the end of the season

There are many challenges in front of Arne Slot still pending. There is a possibility that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohammed Salah leave the club in the summer. If they do leave it will leave a huge hole in the squad which Slot will have to fill to continue the success. This season is also not over. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could provide tough competition for the league title and they have to face Eddie Howe’s brilliant Newcastle team at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final. The Champions league and FA cup are never easy to win and there is still a long way to go in both competitions. It's too early to say if Arne Slot’s Liverpool are better than Klopp’s Liverpool. However winning 2 or 3 trophies which looks like a real possibility certainly take them in those conversations. In truth this is Liverpool’s best chance to do a clean sweep as this might be the most complete side they have assembled in the 21^st century.

By Parth Gokhale