Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made several changes at the club since replacing Jurgen Klopp last year
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has overseen a period of change since arriving at Anfield in 2024. Tasked with succeeding Jurgen Klopp, the Dutch coach delivered a Premier League title in his first season.
Although the league title was largely won using Klopp’s squad, Slot made decisions, on and off the pitch, that contributed to his immediate success. In the summer, the Reds made a series of high-profile signings, forcing him to tweak his side once again.
The club have endured blips during the current campaign as Slot gets to grips with his new-look squad. However, the Reds appear to have overcome some of their earlier issues as they are unbeaten in their last six matches. Here is a look at how Slot has moved away from the Klopp era.
Christmas Day off
The Premier League schedule has handed Slot and the Liverpool squad an early gift that was not possible during Klopp’s reign. Due to the traditional Boxing Day fixtures, players are ordinarily forced to report for training on Christmas Day.
However, only one Premier League game will be played on December 26, with Liverpool’s home match against Wolves one of seven being played on Saturday, December 27. While the change to tradition will divide some supporters, it has been welcomed by Virgil van Dijk.
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After the club’s 2-1 win over Spurs last weekend, the Liverpool captain said: “We have Christmas Day off which is very nice of the staff,” said Van Dijk. “It’s a nice change. I’ll be at home Christmas Eve too and I’m really looking forward to it.
“The staff always have a particular plan for a game. It works well for everyone. It’s special to be off on Christmas Day. I don’t think it’s happened in my Premier League career so far. I’ll make the most of being with my family and enjoy it all.”
Hotel rule scrapped
Another rule change that Van Dijk has embraced is the switch to the team’s pre-match routine for home games. Under Klopp, the squad were required to stay together in a hotel the night before an Anfield match, but Slot believes sleeping in their own homes is more beneficial for his players.
“It’s everyone’s own preference, but it’s the rules now,” Van Dijk explained last season. “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.”
He 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.”
Approach to media
Slot has an entirely different approach from his predecessor when it comes to press conferences. While Klopp could flip between sharing a laugh with reporters and providing fiery responses when certain topics were raised, Slot cuts a calmer figure in front of the media.
The current Liverpool boss often refused to get drawn into ongoing contract discussions last term, as speculation continually surrounded Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah. When the latter spoke out against the club earlier this month, Slot expertly diffused the situation after dropping him from the matchday squad against Inter Milan.
“As I said last week, actions speak louder than words and we moved on. He was in the squad and he was the first substitution I made,” Slot said following Liverpool’s win over Brighton.
“But now he is at the AFCON, playing big games for himself and the country, so I think it is fair to them, and also to us because we are going to play some important games, that all the focus is for him over there and there should not be any distraction from me saying things about his time at Liverpool.
“We have moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton. Now he is there, so it is fair for his country, and for him and us, to talk about Tottenham and other games.”
Tactical tweaks
Liverpool became renowned for fast-paced attacking football under Klopp, but Slot made subtle tweaks last season. Despite relying on the same players, Slot appeared to favour a more patient approach during their Premier League triumph.
Perhaps most notably, he successfully switched Ryan Gravenberch to a deeper-lying role last season. Following a busy summer window, the Liverpool manager has had to further adapt his team, albeit with mixed results, with Alexander Isak fulfilling a more orthodox number nine role.
Getting the best out of Florian Wirtz, either out wide or as a number 10, remains an ongoing challenge. Meanwhile, Salah had not started the club’s last five games before travelling to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, which would have been unthinkable under Klopp.
Role in transfers
Klopp saw his influence on transfers grow throughout his time at the club, particularly after sporting directors Michael Edwards and Julian Ward left the Reds. Slot occupies a different role within the current hierarchy, focused on day-to-day management of the team, following Richard Hughes’ appointment as sporting director and Edwards’ return in a new capacity, working for owners FSG.
On his relationship with Hughes, Slot said last year: “[Contact] is not on a daily basis but it is the same every month. I have had a very good relationship from the start with Richard, which is one of the reasons why I loved to join the club.
“I have talked about the fans and the players we have, but if the relationship with the sporting director is not the best you will not go – but it was the contrary of that because I had a good feeling from the start about the person and definitely about the professional.
“It is the same with Michael Edwards and everyone, but the main one I communicate with is Richard. Of course, sometimes there is a bit of contact with the others (FSG) but there is a clear hierarchy and I speak mostly to Richard.”
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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