From Bergentheim to Anfield: Arne Slot’s Debut as Liverpool Manager
The atmosphere at Anfield was electric as Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new manager, made his Premier League home debut. Fans held up a banner referencing Slot’s birthplace, showing their support for the Dutchman. Slot, who had previously headed straight for the tunnel after his first league game against Ipswich, acknowledged the fans’ support and expressed his gratitude, stating that the support of the fans is not something the team takes for granted.
Liverpool’s famous ground was even louder than usual for the start of the post-Jurgen Klopp era. John W Henry, the club’s owner, was present for Slot’s big moment, and the fans were visibly excited, twirling scarves with Slot’s name on them. The excitement continued as Luis Diaz gave Liverpool the perfect start with a well-executed finish, followed by Mohamed Salah sealing the points with a goal in the second half.
Slot expressed his satisfaction with the atmosphere at Anfield, stating that it lived up to its reputation as a family club. He also noted that the fans appreciated a team that played well and worked hard. The Dutchman was pleased with what he saw on his first competitive experience at Anfield and believed that if he liked it, the fans would too. It was indeed a very good day for Liverpool.
Under Slot’s management, Liverpool has had a solid start to the season, winning both of their opening games and yet to concede a goal. The players returned from their holiday in excellent physical condition, which Slot commended. He also mentioned that the team hasn’t made many changes compared to the previous regime, making it easier for the players to adapt and perform well.
One notable aspect of Liverpool’s performance against Brentford was their passing accuracy. They completed 92% of their passes, the best passing accuracy in a Premier League game since 2003-04. In addition, they had 50 touches in the opposition box, the most in a manager’s first-ever game in charge in the Premier League since Opta started recording the data in 2008-09. Slot attributed this success to the team’s hard work.
Despite the victory, Slot acknowledged that there were areas for improvement. He praised the team for their hard work without the ball, which allowed them to create numerous chances. However, he felt that they could have killed the game earlier by converting more of those chances.
With six points from their first two games, Liverpool will now face their bitter rivals Manchester United with high spirits. The Slot era has started on a positive note, and the team is looking forward to building on their early success.