Arne Slot is all about control.
Especially in the final 20 minutes here at Anfield when the Liverpool manager got his defence sitting deep, soaking up Chelsea pressure.
He made intelligent substitutions and saw out the game for a hugely significant 2-1 victory that confirms Liverpool are very much in the hunt for the Premier League title.
Slot then revealed he is emotional as well as pragmatic.
At the final whistle, he went looking for the referee, Jon Brooks, who’d penalised Darwin Nunez for a legitimate-looking shoulder-barge on Renato Veiga.
Slot’s coaching staff wisely steered the flying Dutchman to a calmer place, and he regained self-control.
His brief charge on to the pitch went down well with fans. Liverpool supporters love their managers to be emotionally engaged. Slot’s players will have loved it, too. He showed he fights for them.
Slot’s uplifting influence is all over this Liverpool side, and he didn’t even sign any of the players.
His Liverpool are less of an all-action adrenaline rush as under Jurgen Klopp and more of a controlled, tactically disciplined unit. They are tighter defensively, conceding only three goals in eight Premier League games, one every four hours.
He’s an elite-level manager, spotting things quickly.
Slot immediately instructed his players to target Chelsea’s sparsely populated left-back area. Malo Gusto inverted into midfield, and pushed high up, a bold tactic by Enzo Maresca but one that Slot swiftly exploited.
With Gusto upfield, Liverpool launched long balls towards Mo Salah, including one pin-perfect 60-yard switch by Virgil van Dijk.
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Left exposed by Gusto’s forward positioning, Chelsea’s defence couldn’t cope.
Lacking a leader like Thiago Silva last season, they had nobody to organise them or demand Gusto be more judicious in his forward forays.
Tosin Adarabioyo soon pulled down Diogo Jota and was rescued from a red card only by the ball drifting slightly towards the touchline and Levi Colwill able to cover.
The left side of Chelsea’s defence was spooked, and Curtis Jones haunted them further.
Slot’s decision to start Jones ahead of a world champion in Alexis Mac Allister was spectacularly vindicated.
Jones impressed in and out of possession. Stationed as an 8 just ahead of Ryan Gravenberch, Jones was assiduous in closing down the space around Cole Palmer, even blocking a shot from him. Jones then won a penalty on the half-hour when brought down by Colwill. Mo Salah despatched it emphatically.
If Slot has had an influence on Jones, so has Maresca on Nicolas Jackson.
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Chelsea’s centre-forward uses his pace more intelligently now, guarding against the offsides which scarred his early days at Chelsea. Jackson equalised three minutes into the second half when running on to Moises Caicedo’s though-ball and finishing.
The assistant’s flag briefly put Chelsea celebrations on hold. VAR Michael Oliver sent Brooks to the monitor and the referee saw that Ibrahima Konate’s heel had played Jackson on.
Chelsea have improved under Maresca but their defence urgently needs a leader.
Reece James made a welcome return but will need time to get back up to speed. He failed to react to Jones’ clever movement within three minutes of the equaliser.
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Jones angled his run between James and Tosin, timing it perfectly to meet Salah’s cross, and lifting the ball over Robert Sanchez.
Jones was developing fast under Klopp and even more now. He celebrated in front of the Kop, and struck the crest on his chest repeatedly. When Jones went off with nine minutes remaining, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, the pair received a standing ovation.
Alexander-Arnold gave one of his best defensive displays. He has already spoken about Slot’s influence.
His defending has improved, especially in one-v-one duels, first with Jadon Sancho, who he saw off by half time. Pedro Neto sprinted on and was soon dispossessed by a marvellous sliding tackle from Alexander-Arnold.
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When Neto then went right, accommodating Christopher Nkunku on the left, Slot reacted well. He withdrew Alexander-Arnold and sent on Joe Gomez, who was outstanding in repelling Nkunku and Veiga.
Slot’s influence also extends to Gravenberch, who delivered another strong performance in deep midfield, and also Nunez.
The Uruguayan did not appear a classic Slot-type player. He’s too emotional, enjoying his short-fused battle with Benoit Badiashile, and rarely kept the team shape with his runs all over.
But Slot could be the making of Nunez if he absorbs the manager’s tactical demands. Nunez played well here, and some of his passing was particularly intelligent.
It felt rather fitting that Slot lost his control in defending a player who often loses control.
But Slot’s support for Nunez simply endeared him to the Kop even more. So did Liverpool’s performance and reclaiming of the high ground in the Premier League.
Top Slot suits them.
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