Arne Slot | Liverpool manager (Posture Watch)

Lentwood said:
I really don't understand it. They're scrappy and horrible to watch, they barely create a chance, they don't move the ball smoothly or have high technical ability, they're not good defensively, they're kick and rush football is awful to watch...and yet somehow they keep winning.

Did they create a chance in open play yesterday? As usual, it was major opposition mistakes that led to all three of their goals.

Makes me wonder...why do they benefit from so many penalties and opposition clangers?

It can't just be luck...is it because they throw the ball forward and into the box so regularly? Contrast with United...can't remember the last time we scored from some kind of goalkeeping error or defensive blunder (in the league), is it because we don't get the ball forward enough / into the box enough or because we don't have decent numbers forward?

Is it literally as simple as having one really good player, being fit and athletic in every position and playing "percentages" football?
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One thing they do well is continuously pressure the opposition. So even if they aren’t creating these golden chances, they keep probing and asking questions of the defense to where eventually you get a mistake.

It’s one of the things I think United has failed at for years. We rarely keep the pressure on an opponent for 15-20 minutes at a time around their own box when we need a goal. Everyone complains about breaking down low blocks but most of the time scoring against low blocks for any team comes from volume of potential chances, not some Barca esque interplay to walk the ball in. Make a team defend the box for 20 straight minutes and keeping our crosses, shots etc and eventually something will break.
 
Maluco said:
Momentum from such an easy prolonged start is a very powerful thing. It breeds confidence and belief and they are still riding that wave.
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Klopp built this team. Slott is taking the credit. Even his signings last season have come good. It's like building a beautiful house and then falling dead, only for someone to move into it and enjoying the luxury living.
 
Absolutely no excuse not have a front line of Cunha, JP and Isak/N Jackson.

Absolutely no excuse.

If the TV is good enough, should then be able to play with Son, Saka, Palmer, Salah in the midfield.
 
Maluco said:
Momentum from such an easy prolonged start is a very powerful thing. It breeds confidence and belief and they are still riding that wave.
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Yeah, that's the main thing about our fixture list. In the end everyone will have played everyone, but our momentum might carry us through and perhaps the lack of momentum from our nearest rivals will knock the wind out of their sails too.

Slot might get a "lucky" title win from that, seeing how city don't seem to be the same force as in previous years. Luckier at least, than Klopp.

Frankly, given the 92+ campaigns under Klopp where we finished second, I think we're due to pick up a title without having to wrestle a record setting rival for it. Ferguson certainly collected his share of those.
 
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RobinLFC said:
Seems like you really don't understand it yeah. "Not good defensively" yet we have conceded 3 goals less than the second best defensive team in the league :lol:

And off the top of my head: Diaz missed a sitter a few feet away from goal right after coming on yesterday. Salah hit the post. That's two I can remember in a second yet you bang on that we didn't create anything apart from their "mistakes".
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I do understand it, too well - that's the problem.

XG is too nuanced and complex to mean anything over small sample sizes like one game or even eleven games (or however many we've played).

You created those chances at 3-2...I'll give you that, when Southampton were mentally broken.

Look, I'm not digging out Liverpool here necessarily...you're obviously doing some things very well.

What I am saying is that, as an observer, it's ugly and attrional and relies really on wearing the opposition down and having good athletes all over the pitch as opposed to superstars.

It's frustrating, as a rival fan, to see goals scored week in, week out, due to bad errors by opponents...but if Liverpool have mastered a method of playing which forces those mistakes and allows you to capitalise on them...well three points is three points. There was a stat last season about how many points Liverpool gained in the 75th minute +...again, fitness, wearing teams down, boxing them in when they're knackered.

It won't say Southampton 2 -3 Liverpool (two terrible errors from McCarthy, one terrible error from the fullback)...it'll just be three more points on the board.
PickledRed said:
You’re over-simplifying things - obviously.

Liverpool have probably the only ‘superstar’ CB in the league. The goalkeeper is superstar-adjacent. The right back may well be at Real Madrid next season and the right winger is possibly the biggest superstar in the league barring one or two debatable alternatives.

The idea that this is some industrious set of hackers who rely on opposition mistakes is quite incorrect. In the lead up to Liverpool’s winning goal yesterday, Southampton went almost 12 minutes without touching the ball in Liverpool’s half. Their windpipe was slowly closing and the handball mistake was a product of being completely overwhelmed.

Slot is very controlled and Liverpool aren’t all action - and you’re not obliged to love it - but to confuse that with attritional is misdirected.
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No doubt van Dijk is fantastic, Salah is one of the best footballers to play in the Premier League...Allisson one of the best goalkeepers. I think there's plenty of comments from me on here saying as much. Also seach my post history, look what I said over and over about Klopp's great team that won the Premier League...I side many times they were the blueprint, very exciting, high-energy, loads of talent.

I just don't see it with this team. I see this current version of Robertson, Konate, Mac Allister, Gravenbach, Jones, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Jota as largely "6th to 3rd" types who are performing out of their skin thanks to a history of solid tactical foundations and principles from Klopp and the two superstars who are at the latter stages of their career.

I would say Diaz is a player I do like, he's not a "superstar" but he's probably the next level, a level above Gakpo and Jota but not Salah-esque

It's frustrating, therefore, as a rival fan, to see players who'd sink at United performing very well, and players sinking at United who'd do very well at Liverpool.
 
B20 said:
Yeah, that's the main thing about our fixture list. In the end everyone will have played everyone, but our momentum might carry us through and perhaps the lack of momentum from our nearest rivals will knock the wind out of their sails too.
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It also helps that Liverpool could be qualified (in the top 8) of the CL with 2 or 3 games to spare; so those European matches during the December/January can be given to squad players.
 
Valencia Shin Crosses said:
One thing they do well is continuously pressure the opposition. So even if they aren’t creating these golden chances, they keep probing and asking questions of the defense to where eventually you get a mistake.

It’s one of the things I think United has failed at for years. We rarely keep the pressure on an opponent for 15-20 minutes at a time around their own box when we need a goal. Everyone complains about breaking down low blocks but most of the time scoring against low blocks for any team comes from volume of potential chances, not some Barca esque interplay to walk the ball in. Make a team defend the box for 20 straight minutes and keeping our crosses, shots etc and eventually something will break.
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Yeah fair observation - apply enough pressure and someone will crack. As you say, we don't do it well at all.

I stand by my point that it's very frustrating to watch a team score from calamitous errors from opponents but I say in my very first post on the subject that it can be luck
 
Josh 76 said:
Klopp built this team. Slott is taking the credit. Even his signings last season have come good. It's like building a beautiful house and then falling dead, only for someone to move into it and enjoying the luxury living.
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To be fair, you did predict a smooth and seamless transition…

Josh 76 said:
It won't be far off. They won't recover from this for years.
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B20 said:
Yeah, that's the main thing about our fixture list. In the end everyone will have played everyone, but our momentum might carry us through and perhaps the lack of momentum from our nearest rivals will knock the wind out of their sails too.

Slot might get a "lucky" title win from that, seeing how city don't seem to be the same force as in previous years. Luckier at least, than Klopp.

Frankly, given the 92+ campaigns under Klopp where we finished second, I think we're due to pick up a title without having to wrestle a record setting rival for it. Ferguson certainly collected his share of those.
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I am not convinced on the teams quality, but you can only play the fixtures in front of you. He could have just as easily messed them up trying some complicated system or the players not having taken to him straight away.

So, as much as I don’t like it, if he is able to ride this wave and then push the players over the line when things, inevitably, get tough, he will 100% deserve the title.

And, even though it’s Liverpool, I would much rather see a proper team playing within the rules winning it. The PL needs it.
 
golden_blunder said:
Rooting for Liverpool

There is never any excuse
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Real Name said:
Let me know how do you feel when they'll be on number 20.
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As despicable they may be to us They're at least still a proper football club, were city to keep this up and I have no reason to belive they won't unless heabily punished by the authorities they'll surpass both our records in a decade or two, they've ruined the very integrity of the league.

In regards to Liverpool reaching parity with our tally we have once already caught up and surpassed them, I'm sure we'll do it again if the need arises.


So yes, when it comes to city, I'll comfortably prefer any alternatives.
 
I'm not feeling my usual levels of bitter hatred for them this season. Of course I am still praying nightly for glorious failure where arsenal end up pipping them to the title on the final day, but I'm enjoying city being shite right now enough to be less bothered. I suspect I'll feel less happy about it towards the end of the season.
 
Big three league games coming up. If we’re still clear after Everton away, we’re big favourites.
 
Klopper76 said:
Big three league games coming up. If we’re still clear after Everton away, we’re big favourites.
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I'd drag it out to the Spurs game just before Xmas, I'd you have a 6 point + gap after that you'd take some stopping.
 
GoonerBear said:
I'd drag it out to the Spurs game just before Xmas, I'd you have a 6 point + gap after that you'd take some stopping.
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It’s more that City, Newcastle and Everton are within six days.

If City beat us on Sunday, the whole picture changes.
 
PickledRed said:
To be fair, you did predict a smooth and seamless transition…
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:lol: :lol:

It's funny how people act like a know it all despite there being proof they expected the opposite. Not sure why people are so reluctant to give Slot credit, it doesn't matter who "built" the team, it is Slot that has them where they are...unless you believe Ten Hag or Moyes or whoever would have done the exact same with this squad? Most people were rubbing their hands with glee that Klopp had left an aging Liverpool side that will fall apart, sadly that has yet to be the case (still time, though!)
 
What a find Slot has been, I wish we had found such a manager post Fergie. Things could have been a lot better.

Anyways onwards and upwards with Ruben.
 
RedRocket9908 said:
In 2018/19 Liverpool were 7 points clear of City after 20 games and still finished behind them
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I don’t think City are the same force. If Liverpool have a 6 point lead at the half way mark, I think it’s theirs to lose. Arsenal are the one’s we need to go on a run.
 
Dippers have had a great start, and I will give Arse Slot his due. He has taken Klopps teams made a tweak or two, played favourites less and has got them up and running very quickly.

My only issue, if I were a Dipper - dread the thought - is that I wouldn't say they're playing amazingly, rather their style is wearing teams down and getting them the results.

For me, Xmas and NY will be key. For me, it won't even matter if they have 6+ points or down down to only a 1 point lead but rather if they can get through that period without any issues with their key players or all round squad fatigue.

If they do get through that part of the season unscathed, then I think they'll win the league as they'll continue to grind enough/most teams down - even if they drop points - if they don't, I see them running out of steam.

Only other way, is that they build such a large lead, they can then fall over the line because other teams just cannot catch them. A bit like when they won the Covid title, where they looked a bit out on their feet just before the lock down - where they would have still won the league even if there was no lock down.
 
He’s done great but in hindsight it’s kind of been teed up for him. Liverpool have been competitive for seven years now barring one or two seasons. City’s collapse means the real competition is Arsenal who are quite shaky themselves.
 
B20 said:
Yeah, that's the main thing about our fixture list. In the end everyone will have played everyone, but our momentum might carry us through and perhaps the lack of momentum from our nearest rivals will knock the wind out of their sails too.

Slot might get a "lucky" title win from that, seeing how city don't seem to be the same force as in previous years. Luckier at least, than Klopp.

Frankly, given the 92+ campaigns under Klopp where we finished second, I think we're due to pick up a title without having to wrestle a record setting rival for it. Ferguson certainly collected his share of those.
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As much as I hate to admit it, that's probably fair.
 
Adisa said:
He’s done great but in hindsight it’s kind of been teed up for him. Liverpool have been competitive for seven years now barring one or two seasons. City’s collapse means the real competition is Arsenal who are quite shaky themselves.
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Nail. Meet. Head.

Even the youngsters who have excelled all came from Klopp's era. The only thing Slot has proved at this stage is he isn't David Moyes (working with Dead Woodward).
 
I was sort of kidding when I called him bald Jesus at Feyenoord and was kind of expecting him to atleast need time to adjust.

Maybe he really is bald Jesus...
 
He might be a great coach, but this team is a selfplaying piano. Quite opposite to our team where not a single player would get into their first XI.
 
He doesn't even do much annoying stuff like Klopp

Does he gurn?
Does he flap his arms?
Does he angrily sarcastic?

Maybe he really is bald cheesus
 
horsechoker said:
He doesn't even do much annoying stuff like Klopp

Does he gurn?
Does he flap his arms?
Does he angrily sarcastic?

Maybe he really is bald cheesus
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You can only find out the annoying habits of a manager when they lose games. Look at Pep right now, losing his marbles.
 
KirkDuyt said:
I was sort of kidding when I called him bald Jesus at Feyenoord and was kind of expecting him to atleast need time to adjust.

Maybe he really is bald Jesus...
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How different is this to his Feyenoord approach?
 
I knew they'd win last night because Anfield is a fortress. And they'll probably beat City on Sunday because they are at home again. The best City could hope for is a draw.
 
B20 said:
How different is this to his Feyenoord approach?
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It's similar, but for us the transition was much bigger. Under Dick Advocaat we played extremely reactive pragmatic football with a very low defensive line. Under Slot we suddenly put relentless pressure on the opponent and became gradually more dominant in possession. So our style under him in the end was a bit more attacking than he is with Liverpool now, but that's also because our league is very different to England. 14 out of the 18 teams here just crumble completely under high pressure and just results in them sitting in their own box. And that was actually our biggest problem under Slot, breaking down a low block.
 
United won the league in 10/11 with 80 points. 9 clear of Chelsea in 2nd. Hardly a tough league that year, with Hodgson, #WengerOut, Ancelotti being sacked at Chelsea and a "Meh" City.

Can't remember people discrediting the title because it "opened up for United". Regardless we are not even at Christmas, so nothing has even been won yet.
 
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