When Jurgen Klopp announced his exit from Liverpool after nine years at Anfield, speculation surrounding his potential successor as manager immediately became a major talking point.
Unlike at rival club Manchester United, where Sir Alex Ferguson had a hand in naming his successor, Klopp left the crucial decision in the hands of the very capable Michael Edwards.
That decision ultimately paid off, with Arne Slot’s arrival proving to be a masterstroke by the club’s esteemed chief executive of football.
Slot did a fantastic job at Feyenoord, leading them to their first league title in six years before parting ways with the club as a Dutch Cup winner.
He certainly couldn’t boast the trophy cabinet or experience required to fill Klopp’s boots, but his start to life at Anfield suggests his predecessor’s ‘success’ at Anfield may be a bit overhyped.
The Transition from Klopp to Slot
Liverpool supporters were sceptical about Slot’s appointment, and rightly so. The Premier League has chewed up and spat out Dutch managers over the years, with Erik ten Hag the latest victim.
However, it has not taken the 46-year-old too long to make his mark, and after only a few months on the job, doubters have been turned into believers.
Slot has impressed the club faithful with his calm and confident persona, but his tactical ideas have been a perfect match for Liverpool, who are firm favourites to win the Premier League title this season.
Squad rotation has been key to his early success, and even fringe players such as goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher are playing a pivotal role in the title charge.
The Irishman has stepped in admirably for the injury-prone Allison and has been Liverpool’s last line of defence in recent weeks. His presence in the team has drawn the attention of fans from his native Ireland, and his performances have generated plenty of buzz in the Irish betting industry.
Liverpool are already popular among Irish bettors, but Kelleher’s presence in the team has generated more activity among the punters who use the sportsbooks featured on Dundalk sport IE.
The Reds’ sizeable fanbase in Ireland will undoubtedly remain glued to their screens, with the club establishing themselves as odds-on favourites to win the title.
Klopp’s Legacy is a Facade
Klopp stepped into a club in complete disarray back in 2015, and he gave the fans plenty to cheer about, including a Champions League title in 2019.
He ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the Premier League title the following year, offering a watershed moment for a fan base that had become accustomed to heartbreak.
Aside from bolstering Liverpool’s trophy cabinet, Klopp also transformed the club’s identity, implementing a ‘heavy metal’ brand of football that kept onlookers on the edge of their seats.
However, if you peek behind the curtain, you’ll find that the German’s ‘success’ at Anfield is a facade. For all the success, he only won one league title in nine years, which is poor.
There is some context as to why that was the case, given Manchester City’s stronghold on the division, but football isn’t a game of ‘what could have been’.
In addition to finishing as runners-up in the Premier League twice under Klopp, Liverpool also lost two Champions League finals, but there are no prizes for second place and defending his failure shows just how much his fanatics want to protect his ‘legacy’.
The facts are there for all to see, and the numbers back them up. For a club of their stature, winning one Premier League and one Champions League over nearly a decade is not good enough.
His successor is already on course to match his ‘achievements’ in his debut campaign – that speaks volumes about Klopp’s overblown reputation.
Slot is On Course to Achieve the Extraordinary
It is still early in the season, but Slot is already charting a course that could soon expose Klopp’s achievements for their mediocrity.
No one expected Liverpool to challenge for silverware this season – and it was not only because of the managerial change.
The Reds only signed two players last summer. Slot has essentially been working with the same squad, but they are much improved under his tutelage.
Ryan Gravenberch’s transformation proves the point. The 22-year-old struggled to assert himself under Klopp but has benefited from working under Slot and is now back to his best form.
The next few weeks will be crucial to Liverpool’s lofty ambitions. However, if Slot continues his upward trajectory, it may not be long before Klopp’s ‘golden era’ becomes a distant memory.
