Arne Slot’s Liverpool are clear at the top of the Premier League and Champions League and the Reds head coach is cashing in on one vital element
Napoleon viewed being lucky as the most-important feature in choosing his generals and the element of good fortune should never be underestimated.
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted luck played a part in Manchester United’s Treble success in 1999 as they got the breaks at the right time to make history. Arne Slot is also enjoying good fortune at Liverpool.
Before any Kopites protest that Liverpool’s phenomenal start under Slot is not just down to luck, of course it isn’t. The Dutchman has shown he is a master tactician with the way he moves his chess pieces around the board to get the best out of them.
But he is also benefiting from luck. Let’s start with injuries and yes Alisson has been crocked, but Caoimhin Kelleher has been excellent yet again for the Reds. Diogo Jota is Liverpool’s fox in the box, but his team-mates have more than made up for his absence.
Compare this to City and their problems began with Rodri’s injury before multiplying, while Arsenal really struggled without Martin Odegaard. Look what happened to Liverpool in 2020-21 when Virgil van Dijk was sidelined and injuries can be key.
Now take the summer and Slot inherited a very good side from Jurgen Klopp, one that was on course for a quadruple before they ran out of steam in mid-March. It’s rare for a coach to take over a top side when they are still a force and look at Manchester United or Chelsea to see the difference that makes.
It was a quiet summer transfer wise and he was quickly able to tweak Klopp’s team into his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, pulling off a masterstoke by playing Ryan Gravenberch in his No 6 role. Then look at the fixtures and while Arsenal and Manchester City had some tough games, Slot had a dream start of winnable matches to bed himself in at Anfield.
The tougher games came in October, but by then Liverpool were fully up to speed and sweeping all before them. Matches have come at the perfect time for them and take last week. One of Liverpool’s few weaknesses under Slot are games after the international breaks and he deliberately leaves out his South American stars like Alexis MacAllister and Luis Diaz because he knows they are jet lagged.
They got over the line against Southampton just about and were back at full pelt for Real Madrid and City. Both opponents are having bad moments, particularly City, who are in meltdown, and Liverpool took full advantage to win.
On form, Liverpool are not just the best team in England or Europe, but the world and Klopp must have a rueful smile as he looks on. Imagine what he would have won if it had not been for Real or City? Two more Champions Leagues and two more Premier Leagues probably.
Klopp had to battle City at their very best and finishing second on 97 points in 2019 – just one behind City and 27 ahead of third-placed Chelsea was just bonkers. Their 97 points remains the fourth-highest ever in the history of the Premier League.
Liverpool lost just one league game that season by millimetres as John Stones made a ridiculous goalline clearance as the Reds lost 2-1at the Etihad in a pivotal game. Or 2022 when Liverpool amassed 92 points and still missed out to City by the solitary point.
This Liverpool team are excellent, but they are not yet up there with the Reds during those two seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-2020 when they were at the peak of their powers. The key difference is that Slot is benefiting from City’s collapse and Arsenal’s jitters. Never discount luck.
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