Arne Slot has safely navigated his first two fixtures, and his subsequent is not only a check of his squad’s capability but additionally their mentality, as Previous Trafford isn’t any glad searching floor.
If there have been ever two video games you could possibly predict Liverpool to drop factors in any given season, it might be within the away fixtures to Everton and Man United.
It shouldn’t be the case, however it’s a psychological curse that has plagued the membership for too lengthy.
There have been some memorable journeys, little doubt, but they’ve been fleeting and too unusual for our liking. To alter that, although, requires a brand new mindset.
That’s one thing that shall be put to the check when the Reds journey to Previous Trafford on Sunday. Slot heralds a brand new period, however the wounds are nonetheless considerably contemporary from the catastrophe that was final season.
3 wins in 20 visits…
Liverpool met United thrice final season and didn’t win a single recreation regardless of the plain disparity between the 2 groups.
Jurgen Klopp‘s facet had 87 pictures throughout these three video games, scoring 5 targets however having no victory or cup development to point out for it – I’m having undesirable flashbacks writing about it.
To say the 2 late Previous Trafford visits final season derailed the season can be an understatement. The FA Cup go to squashed quadruple hopes and the league go to simply weeks later blew up the season.
Three successive defeats adopted to snuff out Champions League ambitions and any hope of the league title, Liverpool merely couldn’t get better and finally limped to the top of the marketing campaign.
The Reds’ final league victory on the floor was in 2021 – reminiscences we’re glad to convey to the floor, that 5-0 was merely pleasant – however sadly these highs have been few and much between.
To say Previous Trafford holds psychological scars is only one approach of wording it, and Slot might want to soothe these lingering doubts the gamers could have, whether or not consciously or subconsciously.
Throughout all competitions, Liverpool have gained simply three of the final 20 away conferences between the 2 sides (3W, 5D, 12L).
You may rip up squads, change managers and see the 2 groups at reverse ends of the shape desk, however this fixture is a vortex that sucks up our hopes and goals, making it an early hurdle for Slot to navigate.
Calmness shall be key
Praising what Slot has delivered to Liverpool isn’t any slight on Klopp, however the calm and composed nature of the current victory over Brentford presents renewed hope forward of Sunday’s match.
Chaos has made approach for management, with threat fastidiously managed – and it’s this alteration that allowed the kind of routine win we noticed towards Brentford having ‘killed them with passes‘.
The energy of the opponents are duly famous, however after two Premier League video games, the Reds have the highest xG (5.3) and the bottom xG conceded (0.8) – that are early indicators of what Slot is preaching.
Explaining his threat vs. reward ideas to Sky, Slot stated: “Liverpool used each second they may to play the ball in behind [under Klopp].
“That meant that the sport was generally a bit open, particularly within the final interval of Jurgen. Generally I inform the gamers to get a greater judgement in threat and reward.
92% – Liverpool accomplished 92% of their passes in right now’s recreation towards Brentford, their greatest passing accuracy in a Premier League recreation on file since 2003-04. Slotted. pic.twitter.com/5QFdd72YAt
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 25, 2024
“So in the event you can put some balls in entrance of the goalkeeper, please attempt to achieve this if not, it’s additionally a good suggestion to maintain the ball, however I’m certain if Jurgen was within the room now he’d say he’d wish to maintain the ball every now and then too.”
With Previous Trafford to be on their backs all through, will probably be an attention-grabbing check of Slot’s practices when the crew are underneath strain – will they revert to forcing the difficulty or stay affected person?
Alexis Mac Allister famous the crew continues to be a piece in progress after the newest 2-0 win, saying: “We all know there may be nonetheless room for enchancment.
“Within the transition, generally we have to be affected person, however as a substitute we’re fairly direct.”
The gamers’ mindset at Previous Trafford will have to be thought of, however it’s when straight-talking Slot can come to the fore along with his purposeful calls for and recreation plan.
Liverpool have proven they are often calm, decisive and composed, qualities that give little for the opposition to work with, and that they will handle time in possession with ease presents optimism.
There isn’t a place to cover at Previous Trafford, however Slot’s fashion of play – which is extra apparent than Erik ten Hag’s in a fraction of the time – will help Liverpool overcome the struggles of the previous.
If he does get the job accomplished on Sunday, the increase shall be extra than simply factors added to the desk.
