Let’s take it back to August – when Liverpool held off a spirited Ipswich Town side to claim a 2-0 victory on the road and start the Arne Slot era on strong footing.
Liverpool oozed quality and slickness after the interval but were stodgy and incoherent over the first 45. For Anfield’s new tactical warden, the jury was still out.
But Liverpool have thrived, confidently in pole position to win the Premier League for the first time since 2019/20 (Jurgen Klopp’s lone triumph), having also reached the last 16 of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup final, set for mid-March against dangerous Newcastle United.
That first victory against Ipswich said a lot about how Liverpool would shape up under their new coach, but it failed to portend the incredible efforts that have cushioned the fallout from Klopp’s shock step-down.
The likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been at the top of their games, fronting the charge, but Slot has also triumphed in taking the less-prominent (but still important) members of the team and pushing them toward greener pastures.
Cody Gakpo is among the biggest winners in that regard, recently awarded Liverpool’s Player of the Month award for January.
Liverpool's January Player of the Month
Last season, Gakpo played an important role for Klopp’s Liverpool, filling in across numerous roles to combat the injury issues that ultimately unravelled the multi-front charge toward the end of the campaign.
Centre-forward
27
12
3
Left winger
12
3
3
Right winger
7
1
0
Central midfield
7
0
0
This was a blessing and a curse for a forward who was unable to craft a run of true consistency in his best role. Under Slot, there have been no such problems, with Gakpo invariably deployed off the left flank.
With 16 goals and five assists from 35 matches, the 25-year-old has matched last year’s tally having played roughly 1,000 fewer minutes across all competitions. Correspondent David Lynch summed it up nicely: “He has been reinvigorated by Arne Slot simplifying his role.”
Gakpo draws on the power of Anfield’s roaring crowd to produce his finest results, scoring in seven successive home games, but he’s proved to be a title-winning force for a Liverpool side that has been overly reliant on Mohamed Salah at times in recent years.
Having claimed four goals and an assist in January, the £120k-per-week ace was awarded the Player of the Month award as a result.
The nature of the Netherlands star’s role means that he takes the limelight more than others, but he’s not the only late Klopp signing to have gone from strength to strength this season.
Slot's influence on Liverpool's midfield
Slot was always going to need a high-octane and technical engine to charge his team. It was frustrating at the time, but it’s perhaps a testament both to Klopp’s vision and Slot’s wherewithal that he made do with the pieces at his disposal – botched bid for Martin Zubimendi notwithstanding.
Alexis Mac Allister is an industrious and dynamic part of the team once again, having thrived for most of his debut campaign. Ryan Gravenberch is bound to collect the ‘most improved’ trophy at Liverpool’s end-of-season award ceremony, but he’s reaping the plaudits for his efforts.
Only two weeks ago, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher revealed that he’s still not convinced by Dominik Szoboszlai, who Klopp signed from RB Leipzig last summer for £60m to begin a much-needed rebuild.
Szoboszlai started the 2023/24 campaign with such vim that he drew comparisons to Steven Gerrard for his all-action presence in and around the centre circle.
However, he petered out as the year dragged on, but has seemingly found his feet under new management, excelling as the unsung hero in a multi-title-chasing team.
Dominik Szoboszlai's improvements in 'Slot-ball'
Klopp ran out of patience with the ebb and flow of Szoboszlai’s levels last term and restricted him to a bit-part role over the closing months of the 2023/24 term, with the midfielder starting only one of the final six top-flight matches after previously being hooked at half-time as Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom. He showed many fine qualities. Reporter Bence Bocsak even hailed him for his suitability in the Merseyside outfit. “He is a pressing machine. Perfect for Klopp.”
Well, it’s starting to seem like Slot’s football is actually where it’s at for the Hungary captain. Szoboszlai plays with unbridled enthusiasm, blending his energy and technical qualities to a resounding effect. You can see below that his ball-playing metrics in particular have been straightened out this season.
Goals
0.13
0.19
Assists
0.09
0.12
Touches
77.08
61.79
Pass completion
82.6%
85.7%
Progressive passes
6.50
5.25
Shot-creating actions
4.92
4.81
Progressive carries
3.21
3.21
Ball recoveries
7.31
5.31
Tackles + interceptions
2.01
1.54
Aerial duels won
0.51
0.99
In the Premier League this season, Szoboszlai’s subtle shift into a more controlled role – with retained energy levels – is indeed emblematic of the changes enforced by Slot.
Market Movers
Effectively, the 24-year-old has been calmed down, structured into a more disciplined No. 10 role, less raging bull, more athletic and artful matador.
He lopes and drives, chasing down lost causes and showcasing his clever movements by picking at the right opponent, thus creating space for his fellow forwards in red.
Oh, he’s got his detractors, sure, but Szoboszlai is one of the business, with Transfermarkt currently marking his transfer value at £63m, meaning that he’s currently worth more than the fast-improving Gakpo (£50m) and indeed Salah – who is worth £46m when not considering his contract situation.
This goes to show that he’s a top-class midfielder with plenty still to give. You could argue that at 24, his prime years are very much in front of him, and that market value could continue to mushroom up.
Slot-ball has restored Liverpool’s belief that they can conquer football’s biggest prizes. The new system’s in full swing, so polished that you can hear it squeak.
Szoboszlai might not be the most clinical attacking midfielder in the business, but he’s indispensable, the facilitator who provides forwards such as Gakpo and Salah with the space and support to shoot, and to score, and to claim win after win after win.
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