Jürgen Klopp didn’t just manage Liverpool – he rewrote the club’s DNA. High-pressing, high-intensity football brought Liverpool back to the summit, and for nine years, it was nearly unstoppable. But now, with Arne Slot at the helm, the Reds are evolving into something slightly different – something even sharper, smarter, and more adaptable.
Slot’s Liverpool still presses and still attacks, but it’s with more structure, more control, and more flexibility to adapt to different situations. The Dutchman has built upon Klopp’s foundations, adding his own twist as the Reds head fearlessly towards another Premier League title.
Smarter, not harder
Under Klopp, Liverpool’s press was aggressive, relentless, and high-risk. The stats told the story – high turnovers, possessions won in the final third, and constant pressure on the opposition. But when that press was bypassed, the defence often found itself exposed. Slot has kept that high-intensity pressing, but with more structure. Feyenoord’s PPDA of 9.1 last season [WhoScored] compared to Klopp’s 7.4 [StatsBomb] shows a more calculated approach. Under Slot, Liverpool are still fierce, but with fewer gaps to exploit when the press gets bypassed.
Control over chaos
While Klopp’s style thrived on vertical, high-tempo transitions, Slot has continued the shift towards a more controlled, possession-based game. With 58% possession [FotMob] and 10 clean sheets [FotMob] so far this season, Liverpool now dominates the ball while remaining defensively solid. A staggering 2.4 xG per 90 and only 0.9 xGA per 90 [FotMob] show a more measured attack that’s efficient and hard to break down. It’s not just about getting forward quickly anymore – it’s about doing it intelligently.
Evolving versatility
Klopp deserves credit for constantly tweaking his tactics to suit the opposition, whether it was adjusting his press, playing with a false nine, or switching to a more counter-attacking approach when needed. He wasn’t rigid by any stretch of the imagination, but Slot has taken tactical flexibility to another level. While Klopp was often wedded to the 4-3-3, Slot is more willing to shift between formations based on the game – switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, keeping teams guessing and better equipped to break down various types of opposition. It’s not about rejecting Klopp’s tactical acumen – it’s about taking it further.
Workhorses become playmakers
Klopp’s midfield was built on energy and pressing, with players like Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Georginio Wijnaldum tasked with a relentless work rate. But Slot’s system gives midfielders more freedom to express creativity. Ryan Gravenberch is the perfect example. Under Klopp, he was an 8 – a typical box-to-box midfielder, energetic but often unremarkable. Under Slot, he’s evolved into a dominant 6 in a double pivot, controlling play, breaking up opposition attacks, and dictating tempo. It’s this shift in emphasis that’s seen Gravenberch become one of the league’s best midfielders this season – another success of Slot’s more structured, creative approach.
Full-backs aren’t the stars of the show
Under Klopp, full-backs like Trent Alexander-Arnold were key creators, with over 25% of Liverpool’s assists coming from the backline last season [FBRef]. Slot still uses Alexander-Arnold’s creative freedom, but the full-backs aren’t as central to the attack. Liverpool’s creativity now comes from more central areas, with midfielders and wingers taking on the playmaking duties. Alexander-Arnold’s hybrid role allows him to link up play while maintaining defensive solidity, but the attack feels less reliant on the full-backs to create everything.
Preemptively avoiding burnout
Klopp’s squad management was sometimes a double-edged sword, with key players often overworked, leading to fatigue in the latter stages of the season. Last year, 11 players played over 3,000 minutes across all competitions [Opta]. Slot’s approach is more measured, ensuring greater rotation and fresher legs. At Feyenoord, only six players surpassed 3,000 minutes [FBRef], with greater use of squad depth. If this trend continues, Liverpool’s stars should remain fresher for the crucial final push.
Is this a sharper, smarter Liverpool?
Arne Slot isn’t trying to undo what Klopp achieved – he’s building on it. The press is still there. The intensity is still there. But under Slot, Liverpool feel more controlled, more flexible, and more adaptable. With greater possession control, fewer goals conceded, and midfielders now tasked with more creativity, Slot’s revolution is starting to shine through.
Liverpool under Slot is a team that no longer just relies on raw energy – it’s a team that uses its brain as much as its brawn, and that could make them more dangerous than ever. What’s more impressive is that Slot is using the same squad Klopp was using, plus the odd appearance from Summer signing Chiesa, so it will be interesting to see how the evolution continues after a few more transfer windows.