Slot’s Liverpool: Big Plans for Trent, Szoboszlai, Nunez | OneFootball

Liverpool’s future under Arne Slot

While there are a lot of similarities between Arne Slot’s Feyenoord and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, they are not identical.

Slot’s arrival at Anfield means things are going to change in the way Liverpool play. It won’t be radical changes, but small subtle tweaks that will help Liverpool evolve.

Slot is a significant admirer of possession-based football. His training sessions are focused on fast-paced, intensive passing exercises. His inspirations include Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton.

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At the same time, he also wants his players to press high and expects them to attack the opposition in the final third when out of possession.

In a way he is a mixture of Guardiola and Klopp, and if he can get things clicking at Anfield, there is potential for really exciting football to look forward to next season.

Given that his style is a slight variation to Klopp some players might be expected to play different roles, or benefit more from Slot’s methods.

I’ve decided to take a look at three players in particular who could really flourish under Slot next season.

Why Trent Alexander-Arnold will flourish under Slot

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In Slot’s system, just like in Klopp’s, the full-backs play a key role in progressing the ball. Particularly, his right-back. This season, no Feyenoord player has made more progressive passes than Lutsharel Geertruida (294), as per FBref.

This season, Geertruida has also attempted the second most passes (2653) behind Dávid Hancko (3557).

When Feyenoord build from the back he is an essential focal point and someone who plays a key role in progressing the ball.

All of this sounds very much like Trent Alexander-Arnold. For Liverpool this season, no one has averaged as many progressive passes (8.57 per 90), and only Jarell Quansah (97.3 per 90) has attempted more passes on average (87.9 per 90).

His role won’t be completely identical. For example, Alexander-Arnold may have to refine his long passes. With Slot’s football based more on quick, incisive short passes, Feyenoord are not known for attempting a lot of long balls. In fact, Slot is known to be someone who is vehemently against long passes. During his playing career, he would sometimes complain if his teammates passed to him up in the air rather than keeping their passes along the ground.

In his Feyenoord team, the centre-back Hancko attempts the most long balls on average (9.24 per 90) which is less than half of what Alexander-Arnold has averaged this season (21.4 per 90).

It would not be a surprise to see Slot instructing Alexander-Arnold to change his style. We should see him make a lot less long balls, and instead attempt sharp progressive passes along the ground.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai will flourish under Arne Slot

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During most of his managerial career, Slot has often used numbers tens. In his current system at Feyenoord, he often plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a double pivot playing behind a traditional number 10 or sometimes having two advanced attacking numbers 8.

In this role, the number 10 or the two advanced eights are tasked with pressing high up the pitch out of possession and arriving in and around the box to score and create chances.

Guus Til was Slot’s number 10 in his first season at Feyenoord and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, scoring 21 goals.

In his second season, the role fell to Sebastian Szymanski, who registered 17 goal contributions in 40 matches and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career.

Both Til and Szymanski then earned lucrative moves elsewhere.

This season, Calvin Stengs is one of the players playing in that role and he has 23 goal contributions in 40 matches so far, with Slot having completely revived his career.

This number 10 role is one that would be tailor-made for Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian’s best trait is his ability in the final third. He’s a typical number 10, who can be dangerous in front of goal, and is capable of scoring and creating chances.

If Slot does decide to play with a number 10, then based on his recent track record, we could see the best version of Szoboszlai in a Liverpool shirt.

Why Darwin Nunez will flourish under Arne Slot

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Slot’s attacking football means he has an excellent track record of getting his forwards to be really productive in front of goal.

During the last two seasons, Slot has transformed Mexican Santiago Gimenez into one of the best forwards in the Eredivisie.

Previously for Cruz Azul in Mexico, Gimenez had scored only 21 goals in 105 matches. Under Slot he has scored 47 goals in 85 matches.

It’s not just Gimenez, though. Over the last few years, both at Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar, Slot has developed a track record for bringing the best out of his forwards.

For example, Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers scored his most career goals (19) under Slot.

The same applies to Myron Boadu who registered 37 goal contributions in 51 matches under Slot. Without Slot, Boadu now has just 28 goal contributions in his last 102 matches.

Slot’s attacking style of play places a special emphasis on the number nine, and this should be music to Darwin Nunez’s ears.

The Uruguayan has shown a lot of exciting potential in his two seasons at Liverpool so far. But he does need to be a lot more clinical in front of goal. Perhaps, under Slot he may finally be able to find his finishing touch.