Arne Slot is making this Liverpool gig look pretty easy.
Even though the Dutchman has replaced the legendary Jurgen Klopp and hasn’t signed anyone yet, the team have still picked up back-to-back wins and clean sheets.
Liverpool beat Brentford at Anfield on Sunday for Slot’s first home game in charge and his senior players didn’t disappoint with their performances.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring early in the first half following a blistering counter-attack Klopp would have been proud of, before Mohamed Salah continued his strong start to the season for Liverpool.
The interesting thing with Slot since he moved to Merseyside is that he hasn’t been afraid to do what he wants and make big calls.
On the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, Jarell Quansah was subbed off at half-time during the win over Ipswich.
It was a brutal call by Liverpool’s new man and he wasn’t afraid to do the same during the win over Brentford.
Salah’s infamous spat with Klopp towards the back end of last season left a bitter taste in many people’s mouths and he was replaced after 82 minutes for Harvey Elliott against the Bees.
But the player whose turn it was to sulk this time around was Trent Alexander-Arnold and how he looked ‘unhappy’ when he was subbed for Conor Bradley after 72 minutes.
Glenn Hoddle explained how Slot went over to have a chat with him on the bench and they were deep in conversation.
But the legendary playmaker still thinks Alexander-Arnold looked unhappy once he spoke to his new manager, as he told Premier League Productions (25/08/24 at 6:40 pm).
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot
“Trent (Alexander-Arnold) came off and he wasn’t happy,” said Hoddle.
“You see him (Slot) go back and have a chat with him on the bench during the game, went to the back row and had a real chat, explained why he brought him off probably or whatever it would be. Trent didn’t look that much happier after their conversation. But that’s his man management. He is probably saying to him ‘you came off because you are playing well and you hit some wonderful passes
“You are seeing Trent playing slightly differently and a little bit wider back to where he normally plays. At times, he is giving him the license to go in and play central, but when the ball is higher up the pitch. I think that suits Trent. Some of his passes were exquisite.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future
Out of the three key players out of contract next summer – Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk. You assume, their right-back is the most important.
Whilst Liverpool fans would ideally like to keep all three players, given Alexander-Arnold’s age and the fact that he can still reach higher levels, you would want to keep him on board.
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Plus, Salah and Van Dijk are in their 30s and it’s easier to part ways with them because of their age, even if it’s a mistake.
But with Real Madrid’s interest in Alexander-Arnold, if you are a Liverpool fan, then you should be worried because you can’t turn down the Spanish and European champions.