Arne Slot appeared to have had a personality transplant during Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 win over Galatasaray on Wednesday.
The Dutchman has frustrated supporters this season with his ice-cool persona, which has often appeared to translate into lifeless performances from his team.
Fans have been desperate to see more fire from the players, and from Slot too, who has been far too happy to see Liverpool play risk-averse, turgid football.
Who was your Man of the Match in Liverpool’s rout of Galatasaray? 💪
But Sunday’s boos against Tottenham appear to have sparked something in the Reds’ head coach, who was as lively as he has been in months on the touchline against Galatasaray. As if by magic, Liverpool played with more verve and attacking impetus than they have all season long.
Slot finally shows his anger
Although he is clearly cool and calm at the best of times, Slot lost his head numerous times during Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning season, with his blowout after the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park a particular highlight.
From a personal point of view, Slot vowed to learn from that incident and react with more calmness in the future. But, in all honesty, it is the kind of thing which supporters really love to see from their manager.
In this most tepid of seasons, some passion from Slot has been sorely missing, but it was finally back on show during Wednesday’s match.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings from Anfield as Reds turn it on to demolish Galatasaray
The 47-year-old was kicking every ball with his team, lamenting refereeing decisions and rushing to and fro on the touchline. It was something which has felt like an age since we’ve seen, and it can be no coincidence that his energy worked its way onto the pitch, too.
It has often been queried whether Slot has lost the Liverpool squad this season, with so many poor and lifeless performances leading to some fans jumping to conclusions.
Those questions were answered at Anfield on Wednesday, as his players left everything out on the pitch. This now needs to be the standard moving forward.
Emphatic from the Reds 🙌
Has this performance changed your opinion on Liverpool's Champions League hopes? 🤔
Slot needs to lean into Anfield’s energy
Wednesday’s match was the first time Slot has really needed the power of Anfield during a big European night.
Last year’s clash with PSG was different in that Liverpool headed into the game with a one goal lead. The feeling was different.
Against Gala, after what happened on Sunday, it was vital that the players got the crowd onside, and they did that by working hard and pressing as much as possible.
Even though it has been a difficult campaign for varying reasons, an Anfield crowd will always get behind the team if they see them working hard. That hasn’t been happening recently, and it has felt as though Slot has been all too willing to leave the handbrake on, both in terms of the team and his own emotions.
But Liverpool is an emotional club, it is very much at its best when it embraces the chaos. On Wednesday, Slot finally, finally looked as though he was starting to understand that his best way forward – perhaps the only way to win back a detached crowd – is to let it go and give in to his emotions.
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