Analysis: Patience and pragmatism driving Slot's dream start

Adrian Clarke looks at how Liverpool are evolving under Arne Slot ahead of Sunday's match at Southampton.

Team analysis - Liverpool

No Premier League boss has ever enjoyed a more impressive start than Liverpool’s Arne Slot.

The Dutchman is the first permanent manager or head coach to pick up 28 points from their first 11 Premier League matches in charge. He has taken everything in his stride and exuded an air of quiet confidence. 

Slot's compatriot Guus Hiddink is the only head coach who can match his record, achieving the same tally during his spell as interim manager at Chelsea during the second half of the 2008/09 campaign.

Fears over how Slot would cope following in the footsteps of Anfield legend Jurgen Klopp have been well and truly extinguished.

Best starts by PL managers - first 11 matches

Patience in possession

Slot has rightly been reluctant to rip up a style of play that suits Liverpool’s players, and has instead simply topped up their tactical approach, adding one or two fresh ideas and layers.

The most obvious changes are a switch from their trademark 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, and the introduction of more measured, patient football when the Reds have possession.

Contrary to popular belief, Liverpool are currently having less possession than they did under Klopp last season.

The key difference is that under Slot there is not as much of a rush to get the ball forward quickly. The share of passes they make inside their own half has increased from 47.4 per cent to 52.9 per cent.

Liverpool are placing a greater emphasis on waiting for the right moments to attack, and are being more selective when it comes to moving the ball forward.

The Reds are also more reluctant to whip hopeful crosses into the box under Slot’s management.

We have seen a 37 per cent drop in the number of their open-play crosses per 90 minutes, with their current average of 8.54 ranking them 20th in the league compared with fifth last season.

Stats compared under Klopp and Slot

Better prepared to deal with transitions

The reluctance of Slot's side to put balls into the box, or rush their attacks, is borne out of a desire to not get caught short-handed on turnovers.

The former Feyenoord head coach likes having numbers down the spine of the pitch, protecting his back four from transitions.

Below you can see maps showing Liverpool players' average positions and passing networks, comparing 2023/24 with 2024/25.

On the face of it there is not a huge difference. But the main change is in the centre of the pitch, where his principal holding midfielder is less exposed and the midfield three are less likely to occupy wide areas.

Liverpool’s left-back is also more cautious in his positioning, denying opponents space behind him that could leave them exposed when possession changes hands.

Interestingly, Liverpool have faced the exact same number of shots from fast breaks as last season, with 0.82 per 90.

But overall, their defensive numbers are excellent.

They are giving away very few quality chances, conceding only six goals and boasting the best Expected Goals Against (xGA) tally of 0.86 per 90.

Expected Goals Against and goals conceded by season

Less frenetic

Liverpool are also learning how to become more efficient with their use of energy.

Klopp was a manager who demanded incredible levels of intensity from his players, both in and out of possession, but his replacement has stripped that back a bit.

The Reds cover less distance under Slot, who prefers more of a mid-pitch block than the high press that was so synonymous with his German predecessor.

Defending from the front is important for all teams, but Liverpool’s press is not as regular or fervent as it was, with their number of pressed sequences per 90 minutes dropping sharply.

A measure of pressing intensity, PPDA is calculated as follows: the number of passes completed by the opposition divided by the number of defensive actions by the out-of-possession team (defensive actions are interceptions, successful tackles, attempted tackles and fouls)

Last season their average of 15.8 was the highest in the Premier League, but as it stands they are ranked joint-11th, with 11.5 per 90.

Pressing stats and PL rank 23/24 v 24/25

The frequency of Liverpool’s direct attacks has also dropped, as has the verticality of their football.

Last season they moved the ball towards the opposition goal with a lot more directness. They have now dropped from sixth to 18th in the rankings for direct speed under the new head coach.

However, as they have shown when scoring from breakaways in key matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa, Liverpool are still very capable of hurting opponents with rapid counters.

Nunez's goal v Aston Villa

Slot knows he has the speed of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz to utilise, so he is happy to draw opponents onto his team in order to create extra space for that trio to run into.

That front line are brilliant at exploiting gaps, so Slot feels there is less need to press as high up the pitch.

Stars stepping up

It goes without saying that Salah, with a league-high 14 goals and assists, has been a pivotal player for Liverpool this season, but a number of others have also stepped up.

Centre-back Ibrahima Konate has been outstanding too.

The France international has been the perfect foil for Virgil van Dijk, dominating his duels in the air and on the ground.

His reading of the game and recovery pace have been great assets for the Reds.

Ryan Gravenberch has also performed superbly in his new defensive midfield role for his fellow Dutchman, elevating his game to new levels.

No midfielder has made more interceptions, while he ranks second for ball recoveries and has also made the second-highest number of successful passes.

Revitalised by Slot, 22-year-old Gravenberch is dominating matches.

Diaz is another individual who is thriving, scoring five Premier League goals in eight starts, and already closing in on his overall tally of eight last season.

The same can be said of Curtis Jones, who has produced several outstanding performances so far.

Tougher tests to come

Liverpool deserve great credit for their form and game management this season.

They have won every match where they have scored the opening goal, netting 17 times and conceding just twice.

They have been performing in a really calm manner under Slot, showing great control and a sound temperament.

But it must be said that the fixture list has been kind compared with their top-four rivals, with Arsenal and Chelsea facing far more difficult schedules to date.

The table below shows the average points per match of each team's opponents prior to Matchweek 12's fixtures, and also over the rest of the season. Importantly, it takes into account home and away form.

So for every match that Liverpool have played AWAY from home, their opponent's average points per match (ppm) at HOME have been added to the calculation, and vice versa.

Average points per match of past and future opponents

A tougher run will test Liverpool’s resolve over the coming weeks and months, but right now it is hard to find fault with anything they have done.

Slot’s Liverpool are solid, efficient and very much in the winning groove.