Arne Slot has made a number of changes since joining Liverpool in the summer – and it looks like they’ve been successful as the team sit top of the Premier League at the start of 2025
Arne Slot has made a number of changes since joining Liverpool in the summer – and it looks like they’ve been successful as the team sit top of the Premier League at the start of 2025 Arne Slot has made a number of changes since joining Liverpool in the summer – and it looks like they’ve been successful as the team sit top of the Premier League at the start of 2025
Since taking charge at Liverpool, Arne Slot has made numerous successful changes, including eradicating Jurgen Klopp’s rule of having the players stay away from home before matchday.
Liverpool have been in incredible form since the Dutch manager joined the club, losing just one Premier League game and going unbeaten in the Champions League. They have scored more than any other top-flight side – with 45 goals to their name so far – and sit eight points clear of surprise package Nottingham Forest at the top of the table.
Klopp built a dynasty during his hugely successful nine years at Liverpool, and Slot has not shied away from the fact he has been fortunate to inherit a well-drilled and talented bunch of players. However, the Dutchman has still made some tweaks to stamp his authority and give a new lease of life to a side that had perhaps become a little too comfortable with how things worked under his predecessor.
And it seems to be working wonders with the Reds on course for an incredible season and at least one piece of silverware. Here, Mirror Sport have detailed the most important changes Slot has made since taking over the reins from Klopp.
Hotel rule scrapped
In previous years at Liverpool, Klopp required the team to stay together at the same hotel the night before home games.
However, Slot scrapped this rule when he came to Anfield, and it looks to have been a successful change that has been welcomed by many of the players. Current captain Virgil van Dijk told the Mirror that he has appreciated this change from his new manager, as it allows him to remain close to his family throughout the season.
Van Dijk said: “It’s everyone’s own preference, but it’s the rules now. Personally, I like to sleep in my own bed and be with my family, and so it works out quite well. But what we did in the past worked out quite well, too, as we’ve been very successful in terms of winning.”
The centre-half added: “Personally, at this stage of my life, I definitely like to be as much at home as possible. And I’ve got all the resources to get myself ready in terms of recovery, whether it’s a pool, sauna, ice bath, or anything else I need to get ready. Obviously, we travel quite a lot [as well]; FaceTime is a big tool that could sort of keep you a little with your family. But this year, the regime has changed, and we have a little bit more time to be home and not spending time in too many hotels, and it gives you a little bit more time to be with your family.”
Van Dijk’s words mirrored Slot’s explanation when the Liverpool boss said earlier this year he changed the rule because he felt sleeping in one’s own bed gives his players and the staff the ‘best rest possible’.
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Gakpo shining in new role
One of the most obvious things that Slot has changed is to do with Liverpool’s front three of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo. While they have remained the same trio of attackers, Slot has made a slight tweak in that he plays Gakpo on the left rather than in the middle – and Diaz sits as a number nine instead, with Salah on his favoured position of the right-wing.
This change was spotted by Anfield legend Jamie Carragher, who believes that these little movements have made all the difference for the whole team. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 46-year-old said: “When you talk about the manager, Slot, Liverpool didn’t buy players in the summer but he’s rejuvenated so many players.
“Gakpo looks a different player, Diaz looks a different player, [Ryan] Gravenberch in the midfield – even Mo Salah, from last year. When you think of the adjustments Slot has made, he’s not been a million miles away from Jürgen Klopp and how he plays football. But what he’s done with certain players… if this was the situation where Liverpool were without a center-forward [last season] Gakpo would have been down the middle, Diaz would have been on the left.
“Gakpo looks a completely different player on the left than he did under Klopp, and Diaz looks better when he’s playing through the centre than the left. That’s not being critical of Jürgen Klopp but again it’s that little tweak that Arne Slot has put on this Liverpool team has made a massive difference.”
The trio have already bagged 67 total goal contributions across all competitions between them and are showing no signs of slowing down.
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Harry Murphy – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Tactical tweaks
As well as switching up the front three, Slot has made some other tactical changes across the Liverpool team. One player who has benefitted from Slot’s onfield tactics has been Ryan Gravenberch, a midfielder who is showing his best form this season.
Initially, Klopp signed Gravenberch and had him play as a ‘number eight,’ which required him to be heavily involved in the attacking phase of the game and not interfere in as many defensive battles. However, Slot has turned his fellow Dutchman into a ‘number six’ midfielder—which means he is a dictator of play and is more involved in the different phases of the game, from defending to attacking. The midfielder has been key to their success this season, earning rave reviews for his performances, having only been used sparingly by Klopp last season.
Slot has taken influence from Klopp and Pep Guardiola, but he has also been watching Roberto de Zerbi’s teams. The Italian football coach prefers his teams to play through the opposition’s press from the back, being more patient in the early phase than in previous years. In Liverpool’s games this year, we’ve seen Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher holding onto the ball and passing it to their defenders, allowing midfielders and attackers to find space further forward, opening up space through those thirds to transition from back to front quickly.
While Klopp opted for a more fast-paced way to win the ball back and get further up the pitch, Slot looks like he prefers his team to lay with a slightly slower tempo and get comfortable in possession before pushing into the box and creating chances. In pre-season, Van Dijk said: “You can see we focus a lot on the build-up, a lot more responsibility for our centre-backs with and without the ball.”
While Klopp’s influence is still spotted throughout the team, Slot’s slight tweaks to the team’s tactics have been impressing fans and critics alike. And certainly it seems to be working, as Liverpool lead the league in clean sheets and goals scored.
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Different approach to the media
Another specific change that Slot has made is in the press conference room. The Liverpool boss has a calmer demeanour than the fiery Klopp and has had an easy ride with the English press so far.
Klopp could also have a more friendly and jovial approach to press conferences and would often laugh and joke with reporters. However, Slot has often been more laid back and chosen to keep the majority of his own personal opinions under wraps, especially when it comes to the signing of new contracts.
Salah, van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract in the summer and despite the media’s best efforts, Slot has refused to speak more on the subject.
This is a big contrast to Klopp, who was very open about things like contracts and other subjects towards the end of his tenure at the club.
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Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Transfer business dealt with elsewhere
In previous years, Klopp had a big influence on Liverpool’s transfer window, which didn’t sit too well with some of the club’s hierarchy. During the Klopp era, sporting directors Michael Edwards and Julian Ward left the club as the German’s influence grew in the transfer room, according to Liverpool.com.
However, the pair have returned in another capacity with FSG, the company that heads up Liverpool’s operations and takes most of the responsibility for signing new players at the club. Richard Hughes is the man at the helm of the transfer room, and Slot has placed a lot of trust in him to recommend potential new signings.
While Slot will definitely have some influence on who comes and goes from his team, he spends more of his time on the day-to-day running of the team, both on and off the field.
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Mirror – Sport