Liverpool top the Premier League standings after picking up seven wins from their first eight games under new head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool hero Steven Gerrard has lauded the club’s new head coach Arne Slot. The former Reds captain praised Slot’s start to life in the Anfield dugout with Dutchman’s team sitting at the Premier League summit.
Since arriving to England’s top-flight, Slot’s side have managed to win seven out of their first eight matches, with the only blemish coming in a 1-0 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest. Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea means the Reds sit at the top for another weekend with Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones on target against the Blues.
The win came after Manchester City overcame Wolves in dramatic circumstances a few hours earlier. However, it was Liverpool who ended the game week in pole position.
READ MORE:
Steven Gerrard shares verdict on ‘obsessed’ Mohamed Salah and Liverpool contract hopes READ MORE:
Arne Slot handed clear Liverpool warning after blunt Jamie Carragher Arsenal demand
Gerrard, who was widely tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp during the formative years of his coaching career in the academy and following success with Rangers, is now in the dugout in the Saudi Pro League. His Al-Ettifaq made a strong start to the season but they have hit a bit of a rough patch over recent weeks, winning just one in their last five which has saw them topple down the table into ninth.
The 44-year-old lured ex-Liverpool goalkeeper coach John Achterberg to his coaching ranks in the summer, after the Dutch shot-stopper left the Reds. Gerrard also joked that Al-Ettifaq moved their training schedule, in order to watch the club under the new regime.
“He’s doing amazing, myself and John [Achterberg’ have always got one eye on it,” Gerrard said, speaking to the Redmen TV as part of their live stream for Zoe’s Place. We’ve put our schedule around the Liverpool games [but], the players are on to me now, we’ve been training at eight and nine at night.”
Slot was brought in to replace Klopp after almost nine years on Merseyside, with the Dutch tactician leaving his role at Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord – where he led them to league and domestic cup success. Given the history of Dutch managers suffering in the Premier League, scrutiny was cast over Slot’s credentials before a ball was kicked under his stewardship.
Gerrard admitted he was fearful of who would replace Klopp in the dugout, but has lauded the new head coach. He said: “The team that Jurgen put in place, the staff was so successful, what they got out of the players and how they drove them on to the success that we had, it was natural to have a bit of fear of, ‘can whoever was replacing Jurgen fill them shoes and continue to compete in every competition’?
“What I must say is that I tip my hat to Mr Slot, not just because of results but the way he come in, handled himself and presents himself in news conferences, interviews, I know how difficult that is.
“We all know the size and magnitude of the club, that was one hell of a job to fill, huge shoes to fill so I think it was not against him but he was up against it – and has handled it well. And the players have showed their level, in terms of the standard, so far so good.
“The schedule is about the heat up, one game at a time will be the mentality, they’re delivering on it and long may it continue. Hopefully at the end of the season, we can jump back and go to a couple of cup finals – that’s what we would love to do.”