Arne Slot introduced up his century in Istanbul on Tuesday evening however there was no motive for the Liverpool boss to boost his bat.
As a substitute, after clapping the away finish within the ‘hell’ of Galatasaray’s RAMS Park, Slot was down the tunnel to ruminate on acquainted points plaguing his workforce.
After 100 video games, the Dutchman has a Premier League winner’s medal after a wide ranging first season defying the percentages. That achievement ought to by no means be forgotten, nor performed down.
However he additionally has the issue of a fairly tame title defence on his CV, with pundits and followers alike criticising his type of play.
So, right here on the 100-game mark, Every day Mail Sport examines the place Slot stands after a topsy-turvy two years at Anfield…
Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in midweek was the one hundredth recreation of Arne Slot’s topsy-turvy Reds tenure
Regardless of Liverpool’s struggles this time period, it should not be performed down how spectacular an achievement it was for Slot to win the Premier League in his debut season in England
The case for the defence
Let’s begin with two questions.
If on the day Jurgen Klopp introduced he was leaving Liverpool, you had been informed the subsequent boss would win a league title in his first season and have a mean season the next yr (however nonetheless be in Europe and the FA Cup in mid-March), what would you’ve mentioned?
The reply would inevitably have been that Slot was a roaring success.
Second, if Liverpool have been to be available in the market for a brand new supervisor this summer season, who out there may be higher than Slot?
Xabi Alonso, possibly, however does his type of play match this squad? Enzo Maresca? Perhaps not together with his observe file of falling out with membership bosses. Francesco Farioli at Porto, who many now hyperlink with all the massive jobs? He’s not too dissimilar from Slot.
You possibly can undergo a protracted checklist of names.
Only a few coaches have a greater observe file than Slot, a league champion within the Netherlands (simply the second time since 2010 a workforce not named Ajax or PSV Eindhoven gained the Eredivisie) and England (ending Manchester Metropolis’s four-year stronghold).
No person, together with Slot, is saying that this season has been ok. However in case you are judging him total on these 100 video games, he has proved he’s a top-level coach. Perhaps the subsequent six or so months will outline whether or not the Dutchman is within the really elite bracket.
Which accessible managers are higher than Slot? Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca (proper) has had points together with his bosses up to now
Whereas ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, although a proficient coach, won’t be an ideal match for the Reds’ present squad
So why are followers so cut up?
It’s straightforward to fall into the lure of utilizing social media as a gauge and should you did, you’ll suppose each Liverpool supporter is towards Slot.
That isn’t the case. The match-going followers who pay their cash to comply with the workforce are nonetheless largely behind him, however it’s incorrect to counsel it’s a black or white challenge: many supporters are supportive however disgruntled.
Why? Effectively, enjoying type is the most important criticism. There’s additionally Slot’s extra reserved character, when set towards Klopp. Slot shouldn’t be a tub-thumping particular person who will go over to the Kop after each recreation, nor one who needs to be the ‘predominant character’.
Some would add that even when Liverpool have gained video games this season, they haven’t precisely been well-coached victories.
It has been a yr of underperformance now, with the slide beginning once they have been knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain final March, in what was a seminal second of his tenure. It was a good tie however Luis Enrique was the primary supervisor who appeared to ‘out-think’ Slot.
Oh, and there may be the £450million summer season spend. A poor season would have been excused final yr after a quiet switch window in 2024 – however after having the most important outlay in Premier League historical past, Liverpool ought to most likely be doing higher.
It has been a yr of underperformance for Liverpool beneath Slot now, ever since their Champions League exit on penalties to PSG final March
What are the mitigating circumstances?
There’s one issue that should be on the forefront of your thoughts in any dialogue about Liverpool this season: the tragic lack of Diogo Jota.
A detailed good friend to many, a fan favorite and a flexible goalscorer besides. For a squad of their mid-20s, the grief that may hit them day by day is indescribable, incalculable and one thing that’s not linear.
Some days will impression them greater than ever: seeing the place he used to take a seat, desirous about how the person nicknamed ‘Jots’ would react to sure issues, listening to followers sing his title.
That’s the largest of many mitigating circumstances round this shoddy title defence.
One other is accidents: Alexander Isak, the £125m British file signing, has not but been absolutely match. Liverpool knew he would take a number of months to stand up to hurry however nobody may have foreseen a damaged leg occurring simply earlier than Christmas.
‘He’s signed for six years, not six months,’ is the sentiment Slot usually expresses and that’s honest sufficient, although a kind of six years is already a write-off.
Liverpool are but to see the most effective of British file signing Alexander Isak, who picked up a serious harm towards Tottenham in December
Their harm file, coupled with the dramatic lack of type of the likes of Mohamed Salah, are mitigating elements of their decline
Two defenders are dominated out for the season, Alisson has been out and in of the workforce, Jeremie Frimpong is but to place a run of video games collectively and new signings have taken a bit longer than hoped to stand up to full velocity within the Premier League.
After which there may be the Mohamed Salah conundrum. The most effective participant within the league by far final season, it’s not unfair to explain the Egyptian as a shadow of his former self now.
Others, like Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and possibly even Alisson have seen their degree drop considerably, with inconsistency a difficulty for each member of the squad, new or outdated.
So it’s honest to say regardless of Slot’s deficiencies, he has been let down by the squad at instances.
What should enhance for him to handle one other 100 video games?
Engaged on the idea his first 100 video games have taken greater than 18 months, Slot would carry up his double ton in autumn 2027 if he’s nonetheless within the job.
By then, this membership may look utterly totally different. Initially, the core of Klopp’s nice workforce could properly all be gone: Salah, Alisson, Andy Robertson and captain Virgil van Dijk. All are out of contract within the subsequent 18 months, as are Konate and the long-serving Joe Gomez.
Regardless of a mass overhaul final summer season, extra surgical procedure might be wanted within the subsequent two summers.
Slot will need to do higher in Europe – the loss to PSG has bugged him ever since and their present marketing campaign hangs within the stability after a 1-0 first-leg defeat by Galatasaray.
Will probably be extra honest, maybe, to guage him based mostly on one other full season with this squad – and ideally when half of it’s not injured. If by, say, this autumn, Liverpool nonetheless really feel like a workforce missing a optimistic trajectory, then the homeowners could have a choice to make.
Proper now, although, it’s understood Fenway Sports activities Group and the management on the membership are backing Slot.
Liverpool are nonetheless within the FA Cup and Champions League and will nonetheless have a particular season – albeit they should come from behind towards Galatasaray
What does Slot consider his 100?
When requested how he displays on his time at Anfield, Slot mentioned: ‘This would possibly sound bizarre if I say solely optimistic, as a result of this season has not been solely optimistic.
‘The assist I’ve at all times felt, not speaking about social media – I don’t comply with that a lot – however the assist I’ve felt from the house crowd, away crowd, individuals contained in the constructing, possession…
‘What we now have completed right here collectively to attain the issues we now have achieved, is in my reminiscence solely very particular. We’re struggling now, that can be very apparent. That is most likely the nicest membership to battle in.
‘This membership has at all times proven in numerous intervals, everyone seems to be there for you. You strive even more durable. It’s a unbelievable membership to work in due to the services, individuals, followers. It’s not all unfavorable once we don’t have the performances we wish. It’s nonetheless an amazing place to be.
‘Even higher should you win the league! Even in a season like this, it’s nonetheless a privilege.’
‘What we now have completed right here collectively to attain the issues we now have achieved, is in my reminiscence solely very particular,’ insists Slot
Every day Mail Sport’s verdict on Slot’s century
I’ve been there from the beginning of Slot’s reign, at his unveiling halfway by way of Euro 2024, to 2 pre-season excursions and almost each match dwelling and away.
The highs have been very excessive: thrashing Tottenham to win the league at a canter 11 months in the past, beating Actual Madrid twice, possibly Salah’s finest season but (the Egyptian ending as little as fourth within the Ballon d’Or was a farce). Followers will always remember spring 2025.
A slight fall-off this season would have been excusable, notably when contemplating the mitigating elements of Jota’s tragic passing, accidents, new signings taking time, star gamers ageing, and plain unhealthy luck.
Slot’s drawback is that it has not been a slight fall-off however a dramatic decline. The lows have been very low. If it continues and he can not arrest the slide, in fact it’s proper to ask questions of his future.
However with the potential of an FA Cup and Champions League title, this might nonetheless find yourself being a particular season. Let’s see what the subsequent two months carry – after which we are able to speak once more about future milestones.
