Former English professional footballer Danny Mills has praised Liverpool manager Arne Slot for showing “managerial intelligence” in his approach to replacing former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Slot has enjoyed an exceptional start to his Merseyside tenure since succeeding the long-serving Klopp at the end of last season.
The Dutchman’s tally of 28 points from his first 11 Premier League games matches the record set by Guus Hiddink during his early tenure at Chelsea.
Liverpool’s sole setback in an otherwise outstanding start to the league campaign was a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in September.
In fact, only in the 2019/2020 season have Liverpool amassed more points (31) after 11 Premier League games than the 28 they already have this season.
Former England and Manchester City defender Danny Mills lauded the new Liverpool boss for his impressive handling of this new era at Anfield.
“Arne Slot has surprised me,” Mills told Stats Perform. “They did have a difficult defeat against Nottingham Forest at home. That was a defeat not many people saw that coming, but the start he’s had is unbelievable. It’s incredible.
“Training might be slightly different, but the style of play is very similar. The players are comfortable with it. They’ve been high-energy, closing people down, and playing at 100 miles an hour when they win the ball back.
“It shows managerial intelligence to understand the players’ qualities and build on what they had when they were successful. He hasn’t overthought it or tinkered too much.
“He hasn’t been arrogant and said, ‘I’m going to rip it up and start fresh’. It wasn’t broken; it was already successful. He’s just added to it.”
“Liverpool identified the man they wanted, brought him in, and he’s been very clever. He looked at the squad and thought, ‘these are good players. I don’t need to change too much’.
“That’s smart because Liverpool were very successful under Klopp. If you come in and rip up the playbook and it doesn’t work, players will question why they’re not doing what worked under Klopp.”
Slot’s Liverpool will be looking to consolidate their position atop the Premier League table when they return to action on Sunday, November 24 with a visit to relegation threatened Southampton on the horizon.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
