Arne Slot is all about management.
Particularly within the final 20 minutes right here at Anfield, when the Liverpool supervisor acquired his protection to take a seat deep, absorbing Chelsea’s strain.
He made sensible substitutions and completed the sport for a massively important 2-1 victory that confirms Liverpool are very a lot within the hunt for the Premier League title.
Slot later revealed that he’s emotional and pragmatic.
On the ultimate whistle, he went to search out the referee, Jon Brooks, who had penalized Darwin Núñez for a seemingly respectable shoulder blow on Renato Veiga.
Slot’s teaching employees correctly guided the flying Dutchman to a calmer place and regained management of himself.
His temporary look on the pitch was effectively acquired by the followers. Liverpool followers adore it when their managers are emotionally invested. Slots gamers could have beloved it too. He confirmed that he fights for them.
Slot’s uplifting affect is throughout this Liverpool group, and he did not even signal any of the gamers.
His Liverpool are much less of an action-packed adrenaline rush like beneath Jurgen Klopp and extra of a managed and tactically disciplined unit. They’re tighter defensively, conceding simply three objectives in eight Premier League video games, one each 4 hours.
He’s an elite supervisor who spots issues rapidly.
Slot instantly ordered his gamers to focus on Chelsea’s sparsely populated left again space. Malo Gusto reversed into midfield and pushed excessive, a daring tactic by Enzo Maresca however one which Slot rapidly took benefit of.
With Gusto on the sphere, Liverpool launched lengthy balls in the direction of Mo Salah, together with an ideal 60-yard flip from Virgil van Dijk.
Being uncovered by Gusto’s ahead place, the Chelsea protection was unable to manage.
Missing a frontrunner like Thiago Silva final season, that they had nobody to prepare them or demand Gusto be extra considered in his forays ahead.
Tosin Adarabioyo quickly introduced down Diogo Jota and was rescued from a purple card solely when the ball deflected barely in the direction of the touchline and Levi Colwill was capable of cowl.
The left facet of Chelsea’s protection was scared and Curtis Jones chased them much more.
Slot’s resolution to place Jones forward of world champion Alexis Mac Allister was spectacularly vindicated.
Jones impressed out and in of possession. Stationed as an 8 simply in entrance of Ryan Gravenberch, Jones was assiduous in closing the area round Cole Palmer, even blocking a shot of his. Jones then received a penalty on the half-hour mark when Colwill introduced him down. Mo Salah despatched it emphatically.
If Slot has had an affect on Jones, Maresca has additionally had it on Nicolas Jackson.
The Chelsea centre-forward now makes use of his tempo extra intelligently, defending himself from the offsides that marked his early days at Chelsea. Jackson tied it three minutes into the second half when he ran onto a go from Moisés Caicedo and completed.
The assistant’s flag briefly stopped Chelsea’s celebrations. VAR Michael Oliver despatched Brooks to the monitor and the referee noticed that Ibrahima Konate’s heel had touched Jackson.
Chelsea have improved beneath Maresca, however their protection badly wants a frontrunner.
Reece James made a welcome return however will want time to recuperate. He was unable to react to Jones’ intelligent transfer three minutes into the tie.
Jones angled his run between James and Tosin, timing it completely to satisfy Salah’s cross and lifting the ball over Robert Sanchez.
Jones was growing quickly beneath Klopp and much more so now. He celebrated in entrance of the Kop and repeatedly hit the crest on his chest. When Jones left with 9 minutes left, together with Trent Alexander-Arnold, the pair acquired a standing ovation.
Alexander-Arnold put in one among his finest defensive shows. You’ve gotten already spoken concerning the affect of Slot.
His protection has improved, particularly in one-on-one duels, first with Jadon Sancho, whom he beat at half-time. Pedro Neto saved working and was quickly dispossessed by an exquisite sliding deal with from Alexander-Arnold.
When Neto went to the best, establishing Christopher Nkunku on the left, Slot reacted effectively. He withdrew Alexander-Arnold and despatched in Joe Gomez, who excelled in repelling Nkunku and Veiga.
Slot’s affect additionally extends to Gravenberch, who had one other nice efficiency in midfield, and likewise to Núñez.
The Uruguayan didn’t seem like a traditional Slot kind participant. He’s overly emotional, revels in his temporary battle with Benoit Badiashile and infrequently saved up the group’s kind along with his runs in every single place.
However Slot may very well be Núñez’s creation if he absorbs the coach’s tactical calls for. Nunez performed effectively right here and a few of his passes have been notably intelligent.
It appeared fairly acceptable that Slot misplaced management when defending a participant who usually loses management.
However Slot’s help for Nunez merely made the Kop love him much more. So did Liverpool’s efficiency and regaining the highest spot within the Premier League.
Prime Slot fits them.