Coach Arne Slot has the perfect platform to build a lethal Liverpool

Despite some detractors trying to dilute Arne Slot's role in Liverpool's league success, he was an important component of it.

- By Yanga Sibembe

It is a phrase relevant to critics of Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. The Dutchman became the first coach from his country to steer an English team to a top-flight league title when Liverpool won this season’s English Premier League marathon on 27 April.

Naysayers have tried to dilute Slot’s achievement, saying he is harvesting fruit from seeds planted by his predecessor, Jürgen Klopp. But they forget that there had to be buy-in from the players when the change of leadership happened.

It is true that Slot inherited one of the best squads in Europe when he took over from Klopp ahead of the 2024/25 season. The team boasts one of the most effective goal scorers in world soccer in Mohamed Salah, as well as the best defender in recent memory in Virgil van Dijk.

Yes, it was Klopp who played a part in Liverpool recruiting midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Both were instrumental in Liverpool winning just a second Premier League title. And it was Klopp who ensured that the Reds' supporters would be welcoming of his successor.

"You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team. Change is good," Klopp said during his farewell speech last season.

He also led the Reds in a chant dedicated to Slot, flipping the lyrics of a song that the Liverpool faithful traditionally sang for him. Transitions don’t come much smoother than this.

Work to be done

Even with this support and the quality of players Slot inherited, there was never a guarantee that he would lead Liverpool to the pinnacle of English soccer at first try.