How Arne Slot’s Liverpool might line up in 2024-25: Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and Dominik Szoboszlai as the No.10?

Changing managers is obviously fraught with risk. Players will nearly always need time to get to grips with a new personality with a different tactical approach. However, while Slot’s appointment undeniably underwhelmed a lot of Liverpool supporters (Kop idol Xabi Alonso was the almost-universal choice to take over), there are real grounds for optimism that his arrival will make for as painless a transition as possible.

As former Liverpool and Feyenoord forward Dirk Kuyt pointed out on the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast, “Arne’s way of playing is very much in line with the game that Klopp plays. It is different but the principles are the same.”

Slot has also never hidden the fact that he is a massive fan of Pep Guardiola, describing watching the Catalan’s Manchester City as “the ultimate joy in football”.

“It is not my intention to compare us with them,” Slot told Voetbal International, “[but they] have a similar style of play to how we want to play with Feyenoord: 4-3-3, building up from the back, wanting to apply pressure quickly.”

However, his former team also share similar traits to Klopp’s Liverpool. Whether playing 4-3-3 or Slot’s preferred 4-2-3-1, Feyenoord look to pin opponents back in their own half by playing a high defensive line and pressing intensely in the final third of the field. Consequently, a significant amount of Feyenoord’s goals over the past three seasons have come after winning the ball back in opposition territory.

There are minor if notable differences in possession, though. Slot doesn’t play non-stop heavy-metal football. He likes to slow things down a lot more than peak Klopp. Feyenoord, for example, are not as dangerous in transition and they do not make as many fast breaks as Liverpool.

That is not to say that they do not move the ball quickly when they can, but their approach is more patient, their build-up more methodical, and their attacks less direct. As a result, Feyenoord are less prone to losing the ball and even if they do, they’re well-placed to immediately win it back.

Slot’s regular use of a double pivot is key in that regard. The two chosen midfielders often drop deep to take passes from the defenders and move the ball rapidly wide, but they also serve as a vital safety net, given their presence in front of what often becomes a back three in possession allows the full-backs to fly forward when the opportunity presents itself.

It, therefore, shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to learn that Feyenoord have faced fewer shots than any other side in Europe’s top 10 leagues this season, just 260 – compared to Liverpool’s 414. In addition, only five teams shipped fewer goals (26), while Feyenoord also had the seventh-most clean sheets (17).

Clearly, the Eredivisie is not as competitive as the Premier League, but such numbers cannot be construed as anything but encouraging in the eyes of Liverpool supporters, given the Reds’ defensive struggles during the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Feyenoord clearly have their flaws – despite their sensational statistics, they were unable to keep pace with PSV this season and disappointed in Europe after a strong start to their Champions League campaign – but Slot created a wonderfully balanced side at De Kuip, as underlined by the fact that their expected goals against (26.35) was the third-lowest in Europe, and their expected goals scored (95.16) the second-highest.

It’s, thus, exciting to think what he might achieve with a Liverpool team that Klopp has left in rude health, with a collection of proven Premier League performers and a promising crop of academy graduates.

“If you get AZ and Feyenoord to play [good] football, you will also get the big clubs to play [good] football,” Dutch legend Marco van Basten told Ziggo Sport. “I think it would only become easier for him [at a big club] because you have better players who understand quicker what you want.”

So, who might benefit most from his imminent arrival at Anfield?

Alisson Becker will certainly remain integral to Liverpool’s game plan, given Slot’s goalkeeper usually instigates attacks from deep by playing passes to the centre-backs stationed either side of him. Pundits such as Van Basten believe that Virgil van Dijk, with his fantastic range of passing, will also relish playing under his compatriot, but there are concerns over Ibrahima Konate’s comfort on the ball. Indeed, Jarell Quansah’s seriously impressive composure could well see him hold onto the starting spot he claimed towards the end of the season.

We could also see Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold bombing forward as much as they did during Liverpool’s best years under Klopp, as Slot loves to see his full-backs providing width and overlapping as much as possible.

However, the buccaneering Conor Bradley might end up on the right-hand side of the defence, if Slot decides to move Alexander-Arnold into midfield on a permanent basis. The England international certainly has all of the attributes required to form one half of the Dutchman’s double pivot.

There are other options in there, too, of course. Alexis Mac Allister has been immense wherever he’s played since joining Liverpool from Brighton last season, while Wataru Endo’s importance only grew as the season wore on because of his ability to win the ball and use it well.

Looking further forward, with Mohamed Salah having seemingly confirmed his intention to stay put, the Egyptian is a shoo-in for the right-wing berth. However, most of the other attacking roles are up for grabs. Luis Diaz is unquestionably Liverpool’s best dribbler and would relish the freedom Slot affords his wingers to cut inside, but his future is uncertain, and Cody Gakpo has looked much more at home on the left flank in recent weeks and months.

Of course, because of his intelligence and technique, Gakpo is also an option in the No.10 role, but Dominik Szoboszlai will doubtless have his eye on that position. The Hungary captain lost his way a tad during the second half of the season – injuries undeniably disrupted his momentum – but he has the dribbling skills, passing and, most importantly of all, work-rate that Slot loves in an attacking midfielder.

As for the No.9 role, the word is that Liverpool believe Darwin Nunez is ideally suited to spearheading Slot’s attack, and with the same level of efficacy as Santiago Gimenez at Feyenoord. Still, if Diogo Jota can stay fit, it would not be difficult to see the Portuguese emerging as a better option to lead the line.

At the end of the day, Liverpool do not lack options. Klopp is leaving behind a squad packed with multi-talented footballers that Slot should really relish using to form a team in his own image. Of course, there will also likely be a few additions made to the squad over the summer; the kind that will only further aid Slot’s attempts to get Liverpool playing the way he wants.

Inevitably, there has been talk of several players arriving from Feyenoord, including Gimenez, and there’s no doubt that the versatile defender Lutsharel Geertruida is an attractive proposition. Orkun Kokcu, who left Feyenoord for Benfica last year, has also been linked, but Teun Koopmeiners is probably the top target.

The Netherlands international can play as a defensive midfielder or further forward and is one of the best – and most coveted – players in Serie A right now. Indeed, he’d attracted Liverpool’s interest long before they hired his former boss.

Still, it’s worth pointing out that one of the main reasons Liverpool picked Slot was his ability to get the best out of the players at his disposal, and there is real optimism that he will be able to improve young players such as Bradley, Quansah and Harvey Elliott, after taking the likes of Quinten Timber and Quilindschy Hartman to a whole new level at Feyenoord.

Obviously, Slot will take time to settle into his new surroundings. Succeeding a legend is not going to be easy. But he worked wonders after succeeding Dick Advocaat at Feyenoord and will be confident of doing likewise at Liverpool, not least because Klopp has left him a very strong squad – and already got the fans singing his name too. As starting points go, Slot couldn’t have hoped for a better one.