Arne Slot’s document after 100 Liverpool video games is second to none. Why doesn’t it really feel that manner?

When Arne Slot lifted the league title final May, his 56th sport accountable for Liverpool, the concept his place could be below strain by the point he hit 100 would have been dismissed as ridiculous.

He ended the 2024-25 season with 38 victories, which left him needing 25 wins from his subsequent 44 matches to surpass Sir Kenny Dalglish’s whole of 62 victories from his first 100 in cost.

Instead, after a tough second season, which lurched additional off track with the 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray within the first leg of the Champions League final 16 on Tuesday, Slot has ‘only’ been capable of equal the document.

“It makes me really proud that I became the Liverpool manager and that it is going to be my 100th game,” Slot informed reporters in his pre-Galatasaray press convention. “I don’t think I have a bad track record in those 100 games… although sometimes, you get a different feeling about that if I have to listen to everything.”

Nobody may quibble with the achievement of bringing a second Premier League title to Anfield however the course of journey feels regarding to Liverpool followers. For all of the satisfaction Slot ought to soak up being joint prime of that checklist above, it additionally comes with a well being warning that the primary 100 video games don’t essentially outline a supervisor’s reign at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers is sat in joint-third alongside Bill Shankly, and above the person who changed him and restored Liverpool to the highest tier of European soccer, Jurgen Klopp. Meanwhile, essentially the most profitable supervisor within the membership’s historical past, Bob Paisley, is down in eleventh of the 18 managers to achieve 100 matches.

When these information, there are quite a few elements price contemplating, together with the staff they inherited from their predecessor. Slot constructed on a staff that had completed third the earlier marketing campaign, enhancing gamers and turning them into title winners.

When analysing Liverpool’s kind since Slot’s arrival, nonetheless, the general pattern is way from constructive. It started to fall away in the direction of the tip of final season — albeit not sufficiently to threaten Liverpool’s title hopes — and whereas the early outcomes had been excellent this marketing campaign, there was a nosedive within the autumn. Since then, Liverpool have been on an upward trajectory, however from a a lot decrease start line.

Slot has partly develop into the sufferer of his personal success. Flip the seasons round and no person would have been stunned to see Liverpool have an inconsistent first season as they started their post-Klopp rebuild, earlier than then mounting a title problem the 12 months after.

That is just not the case, nonetheless. Liverpool are unrecognisable from 12 months in the past. Results have picked up barely however performances stay largely unconvincing.

Too many gamers Slot depends on have fallen beneath their excessive requirements. This graphic reveals the variety of minutes Liverpool’s gamers have accomplished below Slot: besides Dominik Szoboszlai, the entire prime eight have been below-par this time period.

Have they been overplayed? Are some struggling as they enter the twilight of their careers? Or are they merely off form and drained of confidence? Time will inform, though the reply appears clearer for some than others.

Of better concern for Slot, nonetheless, needs to be the final pattern of outcomes. A sample of this season has been that every time kind seems to be transferring in a constructive course, a setback is correct across the nook.

Following February’s 5-2 victory over West Ham United, Liverpool gained six of their final seven video games in all competitions. Displays had been patchy however they appeared to have solved a few of their key issues. Since then, Liverpool have fallen to defeats in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Galatasaray, exposing outdated frailties.

Slot shifted this staff right into a extra managed unit final season, however maintained the steadiness of ‘fast-tempo’ assaults. This season, the hypothetical dial has been turned too far in the direction of gradual, possession-based play that lacks creativity.

Slot needed to handle his staff’s defensive points, however in doing so, he diminished his facet’s attacking play at a time when he had only a few ahead choices — Mohamed Salah was heading to the Africa Cup of Nations and Alexander Isak had suffered a critical leg harm. Liverpool have struggled to kill off matches all season, leaving them susceptible.

The rolling anticipated objectives (xG) chart beneath highlights the attacking and defensive regressions. Overall, Liverpool are creating far fewer good alternatives and conceding extra.

Another key concern is Slot’s lack of constructive in-game tactical changes. One of his standout qualities final season was the tweaks he made to swing video games in Liverpool’s favour. Part of that’s the lack of viable choices he has had from the bench however so, too, has been the shortcoming to construct momentum whereas sustaining management.

The final query is whether or not the gamers are making the pinnacle coach look dangerous or if the issue resides with Slot. At the tip of the season, that’s what Liverpool’s decision-makers might want to resolve.

Either manner, the coach and his gamers have to reverse these worrying tendencies to safe Champions League qualification and be certain that a deflating season doesn’t develop into damaging.

Despite labouring this season, there have nonetheless been notable highlights below Slot. We requested six writers to choose their favorite video games from the Dutchman’s reign. 

Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool (February 23, 2025)

This was Liverpool’s fourth in a run of 5 Premier League video games in 15 days. They had drawn 2-2 at each Everton and Aston Villa both facet of a nerve-wracking 2-1 win over Wolves and questions had been being requested as they headed to the Etihad Stadium, the place they hadn’t gained since 2018.

What adopted was a defiant efficiency. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk had been formidable in defence, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister wonderful in central midfield, Salah flourished on the appropriate flank and Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones had been intelligent and relentless as ‘false nines’. Slot’s tactical reshuffle — in all probability finest described as a 4-2-4-0 formation — labored to perfection.

After a 3-0 defeat on the Etihad final November, Slot stated there had not been a terrific distinction between that Liverpool efficiency and this one. The information may assist that declare, however for focus, self-discipline and dedication, these two video games sum up the distinction between this season and final.

Oliver Kay

Liverpool 5 Tottenham Hotspur 1 (April 27, 2025)

It was the day when Liverpool clinched the top-flight title in entrance of their supporters for the primary time in 35 years.

Slot’s facet solely wanted a degree however they put Spurs to the sword to get the occasion began in fashion at Anfield. The chant of ‘champions’ within the closing levels was deafening and the ultimate whistle triggered a spine-tingling outpouring of pleasure. Some followers had waited their total lifetime for that second.

Usually so calm and composed, Slot let his guard down and unleashed some Klopp-style fist pumps in entrance of the Kop. After blowing kisses to his household within the administrators’ field, the Dutchman took the microphone and burst into tune.

“Jurgen Klopp, na-na-na-na-na,” he chanted to the tune of Nineteen Eighties hit Live Is Life by Austrian pop-rock band Opus.

Paying tribute to his predecessor throughout his personal second of glory was an aesthetic act from Slot. It was impromptu, it was modest and it was additionally deeply symbolic, given Klopp had stood in the identical spot within the Anfield centre circle the earlier May and chanted Slot’s identify.

James Pearce

Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool’s title win (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Ipswich Town 0-2 Liverpool (August 17, 2024)

A second-half efficiency that hinted at Liverpool’s potential below Slot in his first sport.

Ipswich, again within the Premier League for the primary time in a few a long time, had been determined to make an impression within the early exchanges however after the break, Liverpool’s class informed. Salah was significantly excellent.

Liverpool may have been out of sight by the tip. The gamers appeared snug with a method of soccer that concerned extra persistence and, by extension, extra possession. Slot had already made his mark.

The efficiency affords a reminder of what he can ship with a full, uninterrupted pre-season.

Simon Hughes

Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (September 1, 2024)

This was the sport when Liverpool supporters — and the remainder of the Premier League — actually began to take discover of Slot.

He picked aside Manchester United with ease, then calmly defined afterwards precisely how he’d completed it, providing an insightful breakdown in his post-match interview.

Any Liverpool facet would take large satisfaction from profitable so convincingly at Old Trafford, however doing it like this below a brand new head coach made it really feel much more particular.

Salah was the star, scoring two and establishing one other, however the position Luis Diaz performed on the left was essential, too, as Liverpool uncovered United’s system by pushing their wingers excessive.

It was solely Slot’s third sport, nevertheless it felt like the start of one thing massive.

Gregg Evans

Mohamed Salah helped dismantle Manchester United in 2024 (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (November 2, 2024)