Talking points: Have Liverpool's Slot machine hit the jackpot?
Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaks with Mohamed Salah during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.Â
Three Big Talking PointsÂ
When Arne Slot first arrived in the Premier League, onlookers suggested he would bring with him a calmer, more fluid style of play that would be entertaining but in a different way. Liverpool fans were even warned to expect less heavy metal, hardcore excitement as a payoff, having been used to fireworks under former manager Jurgen Klopp.
It’s a prediction that looked spot-on in Slot’s opening few games, but maybe he was teasing us. The first half hour against City at Anfield was everything you would expect from a Klopp performance. Liverpool absolutely battered the champions in a non-stop relentless barrage that set the tone for the game and put them 1-0 ahead (with several other opportunities wasted).
If Liverpool can play with that intensity as well as adopting a more patient build-up when the game needs slowing down then they are going to be title contenders for certain. City simply couldn’t cope – and were grateful to hold on at 1-0 for so long.
It's unusual for a new manager to replace a legend and still be able to add layers, but that's what Slot is doing.
The home team’s pressing was first class, pinning their opponents into their own half for long periods; and it wasn’t until the second half that City even glimpsed an opportunity to get forward.
At that stage, Liverpool were able to drop deeper and play on the break, switching from heavy metal to something more reactive.
It worked. A penalty won by Luis Diaz on the break sealed their points and underlined Liverpool’s superiority. Two-nil doesn't sound like a battering; but that's how it felt.
The absence of their influential midfielder and assist maker is hurting City, and he was left on the bench again by Pep Guardiola despite the importance of this game.
The main reason is an abdominal injury that still causes him pain. But there are off-the-pitch issues, too, after De Bruyne halted contract talks, amid speculation he could be allowed to leave on a free next July when his current deal expires.
Only last week Guardiola seemed to hint at fears that De Bruyne, 33, may not be able to reach his previous levels again, which is a serious challenge as the title race hots up.
The problem is that City desperately need him now. Without De Bruyne and influential midfielder Rodri (not to mention Mateo Kovacic) the champions are struggling to dominate midfield in the way they have become used to.
That is leading to an increasing number of mistakes in defence, and an over-reliance on width to create chances for Erling Haaland – who barely got a kick against Virgil van Dijk, often looking static and isolated.
De Bruyne did make it onto the pitch with 10 minutes to go and missed a good chance for a consolation goal; but they need him in top form to have any chance of recovering from seven games without a win.
Surely we’ll see City spend big on a midfielder in January?
Liverpool now sit nine points clear of Arsenal, who seem to have rediscovered their top form after a shaky spell, at the top of the Premier League and will rightly be named as strong favourites to lift the title.
City, who have now won only once in 22 attempts at Anfield, are 11 points adrift in fifth and look low on both confidence and energy. Liverpool fans even threw up a cheeky chant of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ as Pep Guardiola smirked and held up six fingers, one for each title won so far. But even he knows it is unlikely to become seven in 2025.
Of course, you should never underestimate City, especially with the Christmas and St Stephen’s Day fixtures coming up, but this was a big win for Liverpool that may well have knocked one competitor out of the race earlier than anyone could have predicted.
The date to look out for now is May 10th, just two weeks before the end of the season, when Liverpool and Arsenal face each other at Anfield.
Chelsea, currently level on points with the Gunners after beating Aston Villa, will say they should be considered, too – and will face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 3rd.
Butt the Blues are early in their development and it feels like Liverpool and Arsenal are more likely to last the distance.
You could say the same for Slot's men given he has only just arrived, of course. But this match underlined how he has cleverly merged old and new just months after arriving in England.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
