There’s a feeling, whisper it, that Manchester City’s four-season monopoly on the Premier League trophy could be coming to an end.
Not only have Arsenal made great strides in recent years, but there’s also the spectre of a points deduction looming over the Cityzens as part of the investigation into their financial affairs – any such sanction would likely rule them out of the title race.
So what about Liverpool? They’ve lost some ground to the Gunners over the last couple of seasons, but the hope is that renewed focus under the leadership of Arne Slot could lead to a Reds renaissance at Anfield.
And the Dutchman’s early signs are promising based upon the tactical changes he has made during pre-season…
Changing of the Guard
The football betting odds for the Premier League title in 2024/25 are telling: City, albeit still the favourites, are as long as they’ve been in a number of years at 13/10, with Arsenal (7/4) and Liverpool (13/2).
Most of the football tips columns will still favour Pep Guardiola’s men – how could they not, with Kevin de Bruyne and co so irrepressible when in full flight?
Arsenal are the most likely team to push City to the wire once again, but Liverpool’s pre-season performances hint at a side ready to renew their hostilities with the Manchester club at the summit of the Premier League.
FT: #LFC 2 Arsenal 1: Victory for Slot’s Liverpool in Philadelphia. Goals from Salah and Carvalho before Havertz pulled one back. Lots of really promising signs. Elliott/Salah outstanding. Quansah & Sepp VDB also excellent. Sell-out crowd of 69,879.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 1, 2024
The current trend for aggressive pressing in football can leave teams exposed to quick counter-raids, which Liverpool have shown a penchant for under Slot – in fact, his players pinged a large number of long passes over or through the press of Arsenal and Manchester United in friendly wins against those sides.
Both fullbacks were inverted – music to the ears of those who see Trent Alexander-Arnold at his most influential when playing centrally in possession, while one corner routine against the Gunners went viral online as the Reds players scattered in the penalty area like a particularly aggressive snooker break-off shot.
Slot’s tactical ingenuity has also been praised by others expecting the Dutchman to be a huge success on Merseyside…
Taking a Liking
Rene Meulensteen may well be known from his time as a coach at Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United, but he is a respected student of the game – and he believes that Slot has what it takes to win over an Anfield faithful mourning the loss of Jurgen Klopp.
“I think a lot of fans will very, very quickly take a liking to him because of the way that he conducts himself, and also the way he wants Liverpool to play,” Meulensteen, who won four Premier League titles as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s backroom staff, said.
In 2022-23, Arne Slot guided Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 2017 and only their second since 1999. In doing so, he became one of the most desired coaches in European football.
“There are not many coaches in my age group who are not inspired by (the Manchester… pic.twitter.com/DiFP1TwPSW
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 24, 2024
The Dutchman also praised his compatriot’s “distinctive style”, which brought him success at AZ Alkmaar, where he averaged 2.11 points per game in the Eredivisie, and Feyenoord, where he took the previously under-achieving side to the Dutch title in 2022/23.
Whether Slot brings silverware to Anfield remains to be seen, but the early evidence of his tactical style suggests it could be a lot of fun to watch nevertheless.