After succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool head coach last year, Arne Slot was tasked with reigniting the form of three players who had struggled under Klopp.
Liverpool clinched their second Premier League title with a dominant victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday. Amid the post-match celebrations, Slot spoke to Sky Sports, praising Klopp for leaving a strong foundation for him to build upon.
Since taking charge, Slot has implemented his own ideas in Liverpool’s preparation and playing style, while aligning his vision with the strategies of Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, and sporting director Richard Hughes.
After Sunday’s match, Slot and Hughes were seen on the Anfield pitch together, and The Athletic’s James Pearce later detailed some of their conversations. Continuity was highlighted as a key factor in Slot’s success this season. Despite Liverpool finishing third in Klopp’s final year, Slot and Hughes agreed that a major squad overhaul was unnecessary.
Pearce wrote:
“Hughes and Slot shared a vision for transfers. Even though there was external pressure to bring in new signings, Slot believed strongly in the talent already at the club and focused on improving the existing squad.”
Slot worked to rejuvenate players like Ibrahima Konaté, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Díaz, all of whom had struggled towards the end of Klopp’s tenure when Liverpool’s title bid faded.
Each has since proven their worth: Konaté, signed from RB Leipzig in 2021, has been a reliable defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk; Szoboszlai, a big-money signing hampered by injuries last season, has flourished under Slot’s guidance; and Díaz is enjoying his best Premier League season yet, scoring 12 goals.
Pearce also explained that Slot and Hughes avoided rushed signings. Instead of pursuing options like PSG’s Manuel Ugarte—who eventually joined Manchester United—Slot preferred to find solutions within the squad. He entrusted Ryan Gravenberch to step into a deeper midfield role, having previously seen him excel there as a teenager at Ajax.
This decision, like many others, proved pivotal on Liverpool’s road to their 20th league title.