Arne Slot, la la la la la
If, after today, you’re betting against Liverpool winning the title this season, then while your odds would still be better than winning any random lottery, you might as well consider them equal. Yes, we have certainly seen epic collapses before, but the magnitude of failure that giving this one up would take would be apocalyptic. The traveling Kop knows it, and they were singing it in the stands towards the end.
So here’s the interesting part: there is a bunch of research that suggests that, statistically speaking, only very few managers have a measurable impact on their team’s overall performances over time. Pep is one of them. Klopp was too. Turns out Liverpool managed to find another. Take an example from today’s game. Slot usually keeps Mo higher than Klopp did, routing much of the Reds’ attack through him while sacrificing to counters, to some degree, the right flank.
Contrary to what many believe, I think Trent Alexander-Arnold is a good defender, but he gets isolated often as a result, and must rely on cover from his defensive centerback partner. He also gets targeted, which makes it extra difficult for him. Today, however, it was clear from the first moment that Salah was operating lower than usual under Slot, and that had to be a game plan instruction. It meant that Liverpool had a bit less forward momentum than they usually do, and in the last half hour, the Reds showed us they can low block with the best of them. Liverpool had to be efficient with the chances they created, but with Mo as sharp as he is, it doesn’t take more than a few to produce results, and he added another goal and assist combo to his already ridiculous tally this season.
In a way, his personal chase of Ballon D’Or glory is also helping Richard Hughes, because Salah looks remarkably focused regardless of contract status. To me, though, it was Mo’s defensive work today that is truly worth calling out.
Still – and I am certain I will be standing alone here – another player gets my man-of-the-match. City was, in fact, dominant in the midfield, had two thirds of the possession for long stretches, and created far more chances, except that they weren’t very good ones. The reason this happened is called Ibrahima Konate, and boy, did he show up. Virgil was his usual imperious self, but it was Konate who was in the right place at the right time over and over and over again to quash City’s dangerous developments in the last moment. He was so in the zone that some of his blocks seemed lucky, including one ridiculous back-heel when it was still nil-nil, but when you’re that good, you look lucky, so I’m assuming he meant it.
It was a 10/10 performance from the big Frenchman, one for the ages. He killed City dead, which meant it became a matter of capitalizing on whatever Mo did up front.
Of course, even in City’s current state, it takes a big team performance to make it happen, and the lads showed up across the board. Macca was, uhh, immaccalate. Szobo gave everything he had, and ended up on the floor, exhausted, at the final whistle. Jones, with Lucho’s help, gave a pressing masterclass. Grav did the whole pressure relief valve thing. Robbo had a no-nonsense attitude. Ali was never letting anything past him. And the subs were on it; Tsimi had several key involvements and Endo…oh, how I love me some Endo. When we lift that trophy, let’s not forget how key Endo has been when games needed to be managed.
Next up the Toons are coming to Anfield, and I get to watch that one from within the stadium. I will therefore post a column much later than usual after that game, hopefully tipsy after celebrating, so who knows what it will read like. And if we do win that, then by all means, feel free to start chanting “we’re gonna win a league” then.
Because we will.