Liverpool have been excellent under Arne Slot this season, with the Reds looking strong on every front under the Dutch coach.
The Anfield side last night progressed to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a 3-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Cody Gakpo and Vitezslav Jaros impressing for Liverpool for what was a much-rotated starting XI.
Although Virgil van Dijk had to comfort Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah after a poor performance from the youngster, it was a good display from the Merseyside giants, who will feel confident about retaining their League Cup title.
And Van Dijk has now shared a big difference in how Liverpool play this season under Slot compared to Jurgen Klopp.
Van Dijk says Liverpool are now more adaptable to opposing teams
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the Dutch international noted how Slot has made Liverpool more adaptable to facing opposing teams who are playing a system specifically designed to target the Reds.
With Kostas Tsimikas saying Slot has told Liverpool’s defenders to act as a unit, the changes are clearly showing results, with the Reds now once of the best defensive sides in Europe and a club who are proving hard to break down.
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Van Dijk said when asked what’s changed under Slot: “I think it’s just different patterns. Obviously, I think if you watch us play now, you see that we are quite open in adapting to opponents as well as in possession, but obviously also without the ball on how to play, and I think that’s key.
“Opponents could try to hurt us with two strikers oppressing, or maybe three, or just one, and we have to find a solution on that, and we have different patterns in order to do that. And that’s definitely something we train on week in-week out. At the end of the day, we want to keep clean sheets.”
Liverpool look as mature as ever playing under Slot
If there was one word to describe Liverpool during the Klopp era, ‘ruthless’ would come up a lot, with the Reds blowing teams out of the water at an electric pace without a second to catch their breath.
Under Slot, though, the intensity has certainly dropped down a level or two, but in doing so, Liverpool have become a mature side in the process, with the Reds looking more calm and composed on the ball and when defending.
And results are showing that this new style is working wonders for Liverpool, who are looking good in every competition this season and could go up another level once Slot decides to spend in the transfer market.
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