Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been discussing the impact of new head coach Arne Slot and the Premier League title race

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is seen during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on December 1, 2024(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

It was supposed to be the impossible job. Instead, Arne Slot continues to prove almost everything is achievable for this Liverpool team in the immediate post-Jurgen Klopp era.

While both Manchester United and Arsenal know all too well the difficulty of replacing a managerial dynasty following the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger respectively, the Reds squad inherited from Klopp is thus far being elevated on to another level under Slot.

Article continues below

There have been many factors behind the inspired start to the Dutchman’s reign, which now sees Liverpool nine points clear at the Premier League summit after the 2-0 dismantling of champions Manchester City at a vibrant Anfield on Sunday.

But key for his skipper and compatriot Virgil van Dijk has been the fact that, rather than replicate Klopp, Slot has simply embraced being himself.

“It was always going to be difficult to replace Jurgen for everything he did for us, as players and for the club,” says Van Dijk. “But he (Slot) has come in, done it his own way together with the staff, and started working and making sure we have the quality to improve and win games.

“But he makes sure we keep working, are not satisfied and focus on what is ahead of us next and keep improving. You see the patterns we try to do, you see we can change in games or at half-time and it’s obviously a big credit to him.

“We still have things to improve. In games we have struggled sometimes but we have found a way, found answers to difficult moments, and that is key to winning games. So far, so good, so we just have to keep going.”

Klopp’s parting gift is one that keeps giving under the new regime. After the disappointing 2022/23 campaign, the German privately vowed to construct a new side – Liverpool 2.0, as he dubbed it – with the intention of handing it over after a season.

If the huge steps made last term were unexpected – the Reds winning the League Cup and strongly involved in the title race despite an at times chronic injury crisis – they still pale in comparison to what Slot has helmed thus far, Liverpool winning 18 of 20 games in all competitions to also top the Champions League table with a 100% record and reach the League Cup quarter-finals.

“I think the step from, with all respect, the Dutch league to the Premier League is a big one obviously in terms of being a player but for a manager it is exactly the same,” says Van Dijk. “He has come in and done very well so far and he has in my opinion inherited a very good squad not only as football players but as human beings – guys who will go to war for each other.

“The club decided he could be the perfect match for the group here. He made one addition in terms of Federico (Chiesa) but apart from that the group has been very tight, and over the years we have worked together and been through so much together that they thought this could be a good match on and off the pitch.”

There have been obvious tactical tweaks in a shift to 4-2-3-1, a greater onus on ball possession and looking to play the ball through midfield. The performance against City, though, was a mixture of the storm Klopp’s Liverpool could often whip up in the opening stages, followed by comfortably defending a lead with the control Slot wants from his players.

Van Dijk, though, points to a more human factor. “There has been a lot of tactical work but at the end of the day it is about how much we want it as players,” he says. “What do you want to achieve as a group? We want to be successful and in order to be successful it is about all the hard work you put in on a daily basis to win games.”

Liverpool have actually lost the same number of Premier League games this season as at this same point last campaign, and even that was the VAR-infected 2-1 reverse at Tottenham Hotspur. Their present goal difference is only one more than 12 months previous, although they have an improved points tally of 34 compared to 28.

Key to that has been Slot already addressing one major shortcoming during the latter years under Klopp. In games against the traditional big six – Manchester sides City and United, along with London trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – Liverpool have taken 10 points from four games. Last season, their tally in 10 such matches was only 12, a whopping 10 behind Arsenal’s return.

Not that there is any chance of the Reds resting on their laurels with a huge week continuing at Newcastle United on Wednesday before the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison three days later.

“The thing is we are on matchday 13,” says Van Dijk. “It was a great win against City but we move on and focus on Wednesday.

“It feels that we are making good steps. I want to be there at the end of the season, that’s the aim, and in order to be there at the end of the season we have to focus on what’s ahead of us and not thinking about what’s there in January or February. Now it’s Newcastle and (it’s about) doing everything in my power and our power to be ready for a big one there as well.”