RavinThe best managers have always improved the players under their charge. Some, like Sir Alex Ferguson with the class of 92’, are able to bring out the latent greatness of already top players.
Others possess the unique ability to reverse the fortunes of chronic underperformers. Antonio Conte’s relationship with Victor Moses and Lukaku spring to mind, as does Joelinton’s transformation under Eddie Howe.
Such dramatic shifts in player ability, whether from good to great or from poor to outstanding, often happen at the start of a manger’s reign. This critical time period is where a manager is allowed to stomp their authority on a club and impose a new style of play.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis is where Arne Slot found himself just over a year ago when he was appointed manager of Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp announced his shock exit from the Merseyside team.
For Slot, coming into the house that Klopp had built was very much a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Klopp had done the busy work of rebuilding the team and Slot could essentially plug-and-play.
But modern managers are tinkerers by nature. They come in with large coaching teams precisely for the purpose of changing a club’s footballing philosophy and bending players to their will.
Slot’s job then, has been about finding a precarious balance between building on Klopp’s legacy without changing too much. And in the 12 months since he has taken on the job, it is fair to say he has exceeded every expectation set for him.
Of course, not all Liverpool players have impressed under Slot, with a few even regressing. With an eye on the season ahead let’s take a look at the top 5 Liverpool players who have excelled under Slot and the 5 who have dipped in form.
Top 5 players who have succeeded under Slot (in order of improvement)
1. Ryan Gravenberch
Embed from Getty ImagesHas there ever been a player who has seen such a dramatic shift in playing ability in recent years? Brought in from Bayern Munich in the 23/24 season, Ryan Gravenberch had an unimpressive start to life at Liverpool.
In a season interrupted by injury, he showed brief flashes of brilliance that were mostly overshadowed by a general lack of consistent ability. His contributions (or lack thereof) were largely forgotten as Slot took over the squad.
Before the start of the 24/25 season, Gravenberch was expected to play a bit-part in the rejuvenation of Liverpool. By the end of it, he was the midfield engine that heralded the start of a new era at Liverpool.
In a stroke of brilliance, Slot moved Gravenberch from the tip of the final third to the base of midfield. This was an unintuitive move for a player who seemed at his best in and around the penalty box.
But the gamble by Slot has paid off handsomely. Gravenberch looks a player reborn in his new position and has been one of the league’s best and most consistent performers this season.
What Arne Slot saw in Gravenberch that inspired the shift we may never know. The results speak for themselves, and Slot can claim credit for being a more than able replacement for Klopp, just on the strength of this one player transformation alone.
2. Cody Gakpo
Embed from Getty ImagesThere’s an argument to be made that Cody Gakpo was miscast during at least part of his tenure under Jurgen Klopp.
With the blazingly fast Luis Diaz on the left-wing and an ever-present Salah on the right, Gakpo was played through the middle with the hope that he could replicate what Roberto Firminho previously did for Liverpool.
To his credit, he didn’t look terrible. Gakpo’s natural technical ability meant that he could chip in with the odd contribution while not interfering with the flow of the match. Still it was underwhelming.
It was the UEFA Euro 2024 that was the really the catalyst to Gakpo’s return to form. The Netherlands international had two man-of-the-match performances in the tournament while playing on the left. It confirmed what many had been saying, he was a natural winger and not a centre-forward.
Forward a few months later, and sensibly Slot played the 26-year old in his favoured left-wing position. The change was instant and long-lasting, with Cody Gakpo dethroning Luis Diaz and cementing his place in the team.
Sometimes managers don’t need to overthink. Just put a player in his best position and he’ll perform. No point squeezing square pegs into false-nine shaped holes.
3. Mohamed Salah
Embed from Getty Images29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League. That sums up the incredible season Mohamed Salah has pulled off.
The best player by far in the Premier League last season, he has equalled the record set by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer for the most goal contributions in a single season. Amazingly Salah has achieved this in a 38-game season whereas Cole and Shearer’s records were set in 42-game seasons.
With such an outstanding record under his belt, Salah fully deserves to be on this list. Under Slot he has matured to become a more complete player and is a constant attacking threat anytime he receives the ball.
Salah’s ability on the ball has long been there for anyone to see. Still, it takes a special manager to set a team up to play to their strengths and reach their full potential.
4. Ibrahima Konaté
Embed from Getty ImagesIf there’s one position where Liverpool has constantly had the best players in the world, it would be at centre-back. Starting with the Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez partnership in 2018, the team has never wanted for tall, powerful, and capable defenders in the middle.
Ibrahima Konaté fills this mould perfectly. Strong in the air and physical on the ground, his role as the right-sided centre-back has been a busy one, given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s profligacy in defending over the 24/25 season.
Konaté’s few weaknesses stem mostly from a lack of availability. Minor injuries prevented him from consistent playing time in his first three seasons at Liverpool. Under Slot the French international has had a mostly injury-free season where he racked up 31 appearances with 12 clean sheets.
In fact, Konaté featured in one of Slot’s early highlights as Liverpool manager. In a game against Ipswich Slot noticed that Quansah was struggling aerially against Liam Delap and substituted in Konaté at half time.
Making an instant impact upon hitting the field, Konaté carried that rich vein of form throughout the season, making him irreplaceable next to Virgil Van Dijk.
5. Virgil Van Djik
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore we talk about Van Dijk, we have to go through two glaring omissions from this list: Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Mac Allister has had a stellar season, but one that is well within his wheelhouse. The Argentine world cup winner has been consistently good for at least the last three seasons and Slot’s arrival has hardly affected his all-round performance.
Szoboszlai is a slightly different case. The Hungarian has been at the heart of one of Slot’s less successful experiments this season.
Often called upon to play high up the pitch to transform the 4-3-3 into a 4-2-4, he has taken on a far more advanced role this season. Unfortunately, this is one of Slot’s innovations that has not borne fruit, and Szoboszlai’s lack of end product has meant that he has not substantially improved over the last season.
Now that we’ve covered the honourable mentions, we can now discuss the quietly brilliant season Virgil Van Dijk has just had.
The Liverpool skipper has been back at his best for a while now and his consistency has meant that he’s slowly pushing his way to contention for one of the Premier League’s best defenders of all time.
Slot has not changed the defensive structure drastically at Liverpool. While the suicidal high lines are a thing of the past, he still emphasises an attacking philosophy with quick transitions and a direct approach.
Van Dijk has excelled in all of those aspects this season, keeping things tidy at the back and supplying long balls to start attacking plays. The sure-footedness of the Van Dijk-Konate partnership at the back has meant that the midfield and forward players have the confidence to push up and attack opponents head on.
Top 5 players who have regressed under Slot
1. Darwin Nunez
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat is there left to be said about Darwin Nunez that hasn’t already been made into a meme?
The Uruguayan possesses many of the natural physical traits needed for a traditional number 9. He’s fast, strong, aggressive, and has a reasonable amount of technical ability. In his first few appearances at Liverpool under Klopp he was already marked for greatness with favourable comparisons between him and Erling Haaland.
Those comparisons have all evaporated. Darwin Nunez is a diamond in the rough who may be incapable of being polished to gemstone brilliance.
He has been given more than enough game time under two different managers, and while he may have scored a few clutch goals, his overall performance is far from what his potential suggests.
The season just concluded may well be his last at Liverpool. Yet at just 26, he may well succeed at a different club. He has all the tools at his disposal, maybe a change of scenery is what he needs.
2. Andy Robertson
Embed from Getty ImagesIt pains me to write this, but Andy Robertson is in clear decline. For a player who has given so much to the club, it’s cruel that his drop in ability is on full display for everyone to see.
During the Klopp era, he exemplified the very best attributes of that Liverpool side. Unending tenaciousness, physical presence, technical ability, and direct attacking football.
For so many seasons, Andy Robertson has been one of Liverpool’s most consistent players. He could always be counted upon to stifle the opponent’s right wing while providing a steady supply of crosses from the left.
Yet in the 24/25 season Robertson looked a bewildered shadow of himself, being individually responsible for a number of goals conceded by the team. At 31, it is perhaps reasonable that he has lost a yard of pace
Robertson may be better off next season in a less physically demanding league. Or Liverpool may choose to keep him and his undoubtedly positive presence in the locker room to keep heads focused and morale high.
3. Jarell Quansah
Embed from Getty ImagesAt the start of the 24/25 season, Jarell Quansah was one of Liverpool’s most exciting prospects. Yet another centre-back in the mould of Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip, the Liverpool academy player was touted to follow in their footsteps.
Yet it was a few too many crucial missteps in the Ipswich game that may have arrested his development in the Liverpool squad. The 22-year old had a torrid afternoon against the now Chelsea striker Liam Delap and was taken off at half-time.
His performances since failed to impress, and Liverpool made the somewhat surprising decision to sell Quansah over the summer to Bayer Leverkusen.
While a loan to another club may have been a better choice for the player, Liverpool’s recent loanees have not made significant improvements and the club sees a permanent transfer as the more preferable option.
To win a title in the EPL, you need to be near-perfect, and sometimes there is no room for a young, relatively inexperienced centre-back to cut his teeth.
While Liverpool may come to regret their decision given Ibrahima Konate’s flirtations with Real Madrid, for now cashing in on an academy player seems to be the fiscally sound choice.
4. Curtis Jones
Embed from Getty ImagesThe next two players on this list have not declined severely under Slot, but they have underperformed relative to their full potential.
In the era of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, Liverpool’s midfield was more functional than penetrative. The constant pressing and pressure from the centre of the pitch allowed the wingbacks to thrive and the wide forwards to become deadly.
It was a system that worked, match after match. Yet for someone of Curtis Jones’s particular attributes, it wasn’t the best fit.
Unlike Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones was a type of player that didn’t exist in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Bursting with flair and attacking intent, Jones had to curtail some of his natural instincts to fit into Liverpool’s team at the time and has never made a consistent impact.
The 24-year old academy lad has worked hard in the last 3 seasons and is an important squad player to plug in gaps where needed. However, there is a feeling that he has not quite reached the potential he once showed.
Most notably, Jones has been outshone by Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield. Where Szoboszlai may lack in end product, he more than makes up for with energy, work-rate, and technical ability.
While Liverpool’s midfield under Slot is far more creative, it remains to be seen if Jones can tap into the raw ability he showed early on to fight for a place in the matchday starting 11.
If not, then a loan move to another EPL side might be the better option for him. A player of his calibre would be welcomed into any number of teams and regular football may be what he needs to find himself again.
5. Luis Diaz
Embed from Getty ImagesDiaz has had a good season. Not great. The Colombian has been usurped from his favoured position on the left by the far more productive Cody Gakpo.
With Darwin Nunez constantly misfiring, Diaz has been asked to fill in at centre-forward. His natural speed and footballing IQ has allowed him to be an adequate replacement. 13 goals and 7 assists mean he’s Liverpool’s second highest goal scorer in the league this season.
But with Diaz it’s a feeling there’s much more to come from the player who electrified Anfield with his performances when he first arrived in January of 2022. More than three years on, he has been crucial to the club’s various successes and has lived up to his modest €45 million transfer fee.
While his speed and dribbling ability promise a lot, Diaz has a tendency to be wasteful and slightly one-dimensional when playing on the left. But with Gakpo’s injury in the second half of the season and a lack of options up front, there is a strong case for Diaz to remain at the club potentially as an impact sub or to fill in gaps.
However, with offers from Bayern Munich and Barcelona it will be hard for Liverpool to resist a large enough transfer fee for a tidy bit of business as the summer comes to a close.
Fair warning though. Players of Diaz’s ability are few and far between. Selling Diaz would mean losing a significant amount of squad depth and a match-winning player who may be crucial in tight matches.
So there we have it. The top 5 players who have improved the most under Arne Slot and the 5 who may have declined in ability over the last year.
But regardless of individual performances it’s hard to give Arne Slot anything but top marks for overall team performances over the 24/25 season. He started the season with barely any signings and has won Liverpool’s second EPL title without much fuss.
Now with a flurry of transfer activity and the opening of the club’s bank books, Slot’s second season is going to look radically different from his first. Building on his success will make him an instant Liverpool legend, and he might just be able to build the dynasty that should have belonged to Klopp.
Ravin
