How Liverpool’s techniques will change beneath Arne Slot has been a lot mentioned since his appointment, and the person himself had lots to say on what we are able to anticipate – plus a good-natured joke thrown in.
The Dutchman fronted the Merseyside press for the primary time on Friday morning, quizzed about taking on from Jurgen Klopp, new appointments, attending to know the town and dealing with the gamers.
Amid all that, there was additionally time for a query about what techniques he might deploy at Anfield, with it introduced to him that he used 4-2-3-1 at Feyenoord whereas Liverpool favoured 4-3-3 beneath Klopp.
His reply revealed extra about his philosophy on and off the ball, which we are going to see with our personal eyes within the coming months.
Explaining his ideology, Slot stated: “I’m a bit…set may not be the proper phrase, however I hoped if folks checked out my group they might not say it’s 4-2-3-1 or it’s 4-3-3 or no matter formation you wish to name it.
“I hoped they might say there’s a variety of freedom once they have the ball to take it in several positions.
“So typically it’s a 4-2-3-1; typically it’s a 4-1-4-1; typically we do construct up with three. So there’s a variety of ‘freedom’ when we now have the ball.
“However after we don’t have the ball there’s not a lot freedom. We wish to be actually aggressive and there’s just one approach, and that’s everyone largely retains his place.
“I wouldn’t put myself within the scenario the place I say I choose a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1, there are a variety of gamers taking in a variety of totally different positions.
“So when you would have requested me, I might have stated we performed 4-3-3 as a substitute of 4-2-3-1 at Feyenoord.
“However we did construct up a variety of the time with three [at the back], full-backs have totally different roles.”
With a wry grin, he added: “I’m curious who instructed you we performed 4-2-3-1, possibly that one ought to go get his [coaching] license,” he stated with amusing. “Or analyse a bit higher!”
The reply gave us a bit of extra perception into his character – his willingness to have a joke – but additionally what we are able to anticipate to see formation-wise on the pitch from the gamers.
Our first actual perception into the latter might be throughout the first pre-season pleasant towards Actual Betis on July 26, the opening sport of three throughout the US ‘tour’.
