It may not have been the most original of puns, but the message was clear as day – Arne Slot has somehow achieved the unimaginable just months into his life at Liverpool.
Before the Champions League triumph against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday evening, a flag in the Kop was seen waving with pride, showcasing the Dutchman’s grinning visage alongside a tribute to “Arne’s Slot Machine”.
Slot’s record-breaking start as Liverpool head coach has certainly caught everyone’s attention – not even the likes of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in 2004/05 or Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in 2015/16 could top his staggering 14 wins from 16 matches in all competitions.
Yet, it’s the way Slot has embraced the public-facing aspects of his role that has truly endeared him to Reds fans – his dealings with the media and, consequently, how he connects with the supporters – somehow managing to fill the void left by the legendary Jurgen Klopp.
Right from the off, Slot, true to Dutch candour, has had no qualms about calling it like he sees it. There’s no sense of an ulterior motive or any hidden agenda with the Liverpool manager, reports the Liverpool Echo.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Lately, there have been indications that he’s getting more accustomed to his environment, undoubtedly aided by the continuous victories on the pitch and becoming more at ease with the now-familiar faces in the press. The real Arne Slot is beginning to shine through.
Witness his playful banter with Jamie Carragher on CBS after Tuesday’s victory, Slot trading jibes and cracking jokes with the Liverpool legend. And with all of that, any longing for Klopp from the fans has effectively been snuffed out. Barely five months into his appointment, Slot has firmly stepped into the role.
The squad may essentially be the same as under his predecessor, but this is now very much his Liverpool. In terms of charisma and star power, Klopp – who won it all in his glittering spell at Anfield – was always going to be a tough act to follow.
(Image: AP)
And in some ways, that has aided Slot given the expectations were significantly tempered by the impact of his predecessor. Slot has been allowed to be his own person and, instinctively, understands the mandate he has been given.
It was the same at his previous club Feyenoord, where the love he received from the fans wasn’t entirely dependent on the trophies he won. Liverpool supporters aren’t easily fooled. They can’t be deceived, and they can sniff out lies from a distance.
And they have been lucky enough over the years to distinguish between good football and something less appealing. In simple terms, Slot “gets it” just as Klopp did, albeit in his own unique way.
Brendan Rodgers made an effort but never truly bonded with supporters. Rafael Benitez definitely achieved a special connection with the Kop, while Roy Hodgson simply didn’t try at all when he replaced the Champions League winning Spaniard.
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Slot’s positive results have allowed him the freedom to praise his team’s quality and the magic of Anfield without getting carried away. Even in the face of a rare defeat, such as the unexpected loss at home to Nottingham Forest in September, the head coach didn’t mince his words.
He said: “If you lose a home game, that’s always a setback, especially if you face a team you never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for the Champions League places that normally isn’t ending up in the top 10,” he remarked. “So if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment.”
Indeed, Slot will come under closer scrutiny when Liverpool faces tougher challenges this season. Yet, so far, there’s no indication he’ll be anything but straightforward, as is his style.
The departure of Klopp after nearly nine years left a palpable void at the AXA Training Centre, but it wasn’t long before Slot and his team dispelled the melancholy. The Dutchman has quickly endeared himself to the staff at Kirkby.
And that sentiment is echoed in the stands. Slot’s machine continues to churn out winners both on and off the pitch at the moment.