Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes that head coach Arne Slot has provided a key to the success of the team. Benitez highlighted that Slot has successfully maintained the good aspects of the team’s game under the legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.

At the same time, the Dutchman has added more balance and structure to the team, giving them more important tools. Slot’s subtle adjustments and his tactical intelligence to change things according to the opponent have helped Liverpool significantly this season.

The Reds have won 11 out of their 12 games in all competitions this season while conceding only five goals. Slot’s humility in allowing Klopp’s philosophy to persist instead of shunning the old ways like other coaches has helped Liverpool.

Benitez wrote in the BBC Sport column that Slot has successfully kept “the good things” that Klopp installed at Liverpool. He wrote:

“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. 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.”

Benitez further added how Slot has provided Liverpool with more tools to adjust according to the opposition. He added:

“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.”

Many neutral fans and football pundits believed that Liverpool would stumble like other clubs after a beloved long-term manager departed. Manchester United are still reeling from the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson even after a decade.

The same happened to Arsenal when Arne Wenger retired from the managerial role despite leaving them in good shape. Nevertheless, Slot’s early success proves that there are many factors at play other than the sentimentality of losing a coach.

Liverpool quickly reacted to Klopp’s departure by significantly changing the structure of their hierarchy before appointing Slot. Furthermore, the personality profile of Slot alongside his game intelligence and ability to work within the same culture played a key role.

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Many head coaches fell victim to their ego, acting quickly to remove the identity that the former manager left. Slot opted to embrace that identity and added his unique identity to create something more strong as a combination.