Analyzing Arne Slot’s Formation & Style of Play as Liverpool Confirms Jurgen Klopp’s Replacement

Jurgen Klopp won’t have a fairytale ending at Liverpool. The German coach’s farewell season will likely end only with the EFL League Cup. Regardless, Klopp’s tenure at the club has been phenomenal, powering a resurgence at Liverpool, successfully turning ‘doubters into believers,‘ much like he did at the Signal Iduna Park. The challenge to replace the ‘normal one‘ is, perhaps, being settled with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed on compensation for the move.

For many who may be expecting Klopp’s high-metal style soccer to continue are in for a surprise. Slot naturally has a different philosophy and will likely choose a varying set up from Klopp’s iconic 4-3-3. Let’s dive in and see how Liverpool could line up under the Dutch tactician.

Arne Slot’s style of play and preferred formation

As per journalist Martijn Krabbendam, Arne Slot is ‘crazy about Guardiola‘. Like, the Manchester City boss, Slot’s philosophy is based on ruthless control and domination of the game. In possession, the Dutchman prefers a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation. A common aspect of Slot’s teams is that he likes building up with two deep-lying midfielders while the wingers are responsible for creating chances. Fortunately, Liverpool is well-stocked in these areas and it looks likely that Alexis MacAllister and Endo will form the pivot.

Also, unlike Klopp, Arne Slot prefers having a #10 on the pitch. So, it will be interesting to see if the forgotten man Fabio Carvalho gets a look-in. The Portuguese midfielder thrived playing as a #10 for Fulham but was unable to fit in as a Klopp #8. As a result, he went out on loan this season but could have a role to play next campaign.

While Arne Slot is not a counter-pressing master like Klopp, he too has the German’s liking for intensity. Regarding his playing style, Slot had said, “We are an attack-minded team that likes to have a lot of the ball, and we play with a lot of intensity.” Under the 45-year-old, Feyenoord is in the 92nd percentile among European teams for ball possession.

Another point to note is that Feyenoord is in the 75th percentile for central progression. This means that Arne Slot is comfortable building from the flanks. This was a staple of Klopp’s early Liverpool days where the likes of Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson had the bulk of the progressive responsibilities. If the Dutchman continues with this style, it could delight the full-back duo whose creativity has dwindled in recent seasons. As a matter of fact, the duo has just 6 assists combined in the ongoing season. In the 2019/20 season, Trent alone had 13 assists in the league! With a change in management, the dynamic duo might see a return to their creative days

It is, however, not his tactical acumen alone that makes Arne Slot quite good at his job. Similar to Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman has an ability to win over his players.

No-nonsense management

At an institution like Liverpool, the ability to communicate and manage egos is as important as coaching skills. Fortunately, Arne Slot seems a double threat. According to previous Feyenoord captain Jan Toornstra, the Dutchman possesses the uncanny ability to ‘touch and motivate‘ his players. Interestingly, Toornstra was dropped by Slot in his first full season, and this shows how much the players buy into his ideas.

Slot’s former coach Jan Everse too shares a similar view. He had said, “Arne is diplomatic. He tells what he needs to tell the group and doesn’t beat around the bush.” In terms of man management, Arne Slot seems to be more Klopp than Guardiola. Yet, will that be enough to win over the Kop faithful? As it stands, the chances look good.