Rafa Benitez has shared his thoughts on the impressive start Arne Slot has made as Liverpool’s new head coach.
The Dutchman has set a club record, winning 11 of his first 12 games in charge at Anfield.
Slot took the reins from the iconic Jurgen Klopp over the summer, becoming the first manager since Benitez to lead Liverpool after a Champions League-winning stint.
Slot’s influence has been significant, but he faces his toughest challenge yet this afternoon, as his second-placed team heads to the Emirates Stadium to face fourth-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners have closely competed with Manchester City in the title race over the past two seasons, but Liverpool – the only club besides City to win the Premier League since 2017 under Klopp – appear to be genuine title contenders once again.
As the much-anticipated clash kicks off at 4:30 pm, Benitez has offered his insights into Slot’s early achievements and Liverpool’s resurgence.
“We don’t know yet how this Liverpool side will react to adversity under Slot, but I have been impressed by what I have seen so far,” the 64-year-old told BBC Sport.
“Just because they have not been behind for very long in any of their games, does not mean they have not reacted and changed things during them, either.
“As well as watching them against Chelsea for Match of the Day 2 last weekend, I was at San Siro as a Uefa technical observer to see their Champions League win over AC Milan in September.
“Both times, they were very competitive.
“They have been playing with great intensity all these years under Jurgen Klopp and it is very difficult to alter that straight away.
“Also, as Slot has said himself, it would be crazy to change it immediately.
“So, he is keeping the good things Klopp had and, at the same time, he is giving them a little bit of defensive balance and organisation, which allows him to change their approach when he needs to.”
Benitez added: “Against Chelsea they were dropping off a little bit more, but they can still press high.
“Similarly, they can play penetrating passes forward, or they can use the wide areas and attack with the wingers overlapping.
“Slot is giving the team more tools, to be sure they can react and adjust depending on the opponent – or so they can impose their own way to play, because if they are much better than the other team they can control possession in the opposition half, and try to find ways to create chances.
“Overall, I think they have more balance and if they can continue to carry a threat in attack then we have already seen that they don’t concede too many goals.
“Put that together, and it is the key to being successful.
“They are definitely on the right path, and in a good place to go to the Emirates on Sunday.
“Beating Arsenal will be a good challenge and a difficult test, but I think they have the belief that they can do it, and that is the main thing.”
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