The exceptional Liverpool upgrade that could see Reds surge past Arsenal and Man City in title race

Arne Slot has had the perfect start to his Liverpool tenure, and not just in terms of the results on the field, but the performances and reactions behind the scenes.

Replacing an iconic manager was never going to be easy— Jurgen Klopp is worshipped in Liverpool, and rightfully so. He developed the club, turned them back into title contenders, and gave Liverpool fans a reason to dream again. But Slot has seamlessly replaced him so far, and tactically, he is already proving to be an upgrade.

Change is uncomfortable, and most people would rather stick with what they know than risk it all. However, the only permanent thing in life is change, as it paves the way for the new.

Two wins in their first two games and two different systems—Liverpool played a 4-3-3 away at Ipswich, which resulted in a comfortable victory. Then, against Brentford, they switched things up with a 4-2-3-1 without the ball and a 4-4-2 with it. This kind of tactical variation is why those who follow the Dutch League always believed Slot was destined for the top. His strength lies in identifying weaknesses in the opposition and tweaking his tactics accordingly.

Fans will see a lot of changes during games, and even though he’s not afraid to make personnel changes, his ability to influence games with the team's shape is why he’s such a valuable asset. Liverpool could still challenge for the title. If there was one weakness in Klopp’s teams, it was that they were built more for cup competitions. Pep Guardiola consistently finished stronger in the league, which is reflected in Klopp winning only one league title during his nine-year tenure.

Then there’s the way the players have taken to Slot. Mohamed Salah looks energetic again and reinvigorated. Even those who are not starting are responding well to him. He exudes power, which is reflected in his calm demeanour. If Liverpool were chaotic masters under Klopp, they will be calmly poisonous under Slot. He won’t give the media the headlines they want, and he won’t complain about 12:30 kick-offs like Klopp did, but he will keep them winning.

The Premier League has always had successful Dutch managers, from Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink to Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag. There’s enough evidence to suggest that Slot can succeed in this league and keep Liverpool as the envy of the world.

Klopp left the team in a healthy position, just behind Manchester City and Arsenal. But if there’s a manager capable of taking this team to the next level, it’s Slot—the calm that has power.

This season, most pundits have already written off Liverpool as the third contender, with Arsenal and Manchester City heavy favourites to win the Premier League. However, Liverpool have shown in the first two games that they will be right there at the top. If they gain momentum, don’t write them off just yet. Slot’s start has been the best he could have hoped for. Now, let’s see how far they can go from here.