'Slot's more measured Liverpool pass biggest test yet'

Liverpool's reshaped benignant nether caller caput manager Arne Slot whitethorn beryllium much mediate of the roadworthy than the "heavy metal" of predecessor Jurgen Klopp, but it has taken them connected a nonstop way to the apical of the Premier League.

Slot's tempo is much measured than the full-tilt thrills that were Klopp's trademark, but the 2-1 triumph implicit Chelsea successful an engrossing Anfield brushwood continued the Dutchman's adjacent flawless commencement since taking complaint of the Reds.

Liverpool's outstanding opening successful the caller epoch has been framed by the modular of absorption they person faced, meaning optimism has been cloaked with caution, with this gathering with Enzo Maresca's improving Chelsea regarded arsenic Slot's biggest test, adjacent though helium has already enjoyed a 3-0 triumph astatine Manchester United.

It was an introspection Liverpool had to excavation heavy to pass, successful what was a amusement of resilience and intelligence spot - arsenic opposed to the glorious attacking chaos that brought truthful overmuch occurrence nether Klopp.

And it was nary little enjoyable for each that arsenic acold arsenic the location fans were concerned. They celebrated raucously astatine the last whistle, the magnificent Curtis Jones deservedly the match-winner aft Nicolas Jackson had equalised Mohamed Salah's first-half penalty.

Liverpool look capable to exert greater power nether Slot's much studied benignant than connected the occasions erstwhile truthful galore victories were secured aft a chaotic thrust nether Klopp.

This indispensable ne'er beryllium taken arsenic a disapproval of the German, who near astatine the extremity of past play aft a nine-year spell arsenic boss, but Slot's aboriginal statistic are hugely awesome - the location decision by Nottingham Forest successful September the 1 blot connected his record.

This was Slot's 10th triumph successful 11 games, their champion grounds successful immoderate run since 1990-91, erstwhile then-manager Kenny Dalglish had an identical record. During the Premier League era, lone Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, who won his archetypal 10 matches, has reached that galore wins successful each competitions successful less matches than Slot.

For idiosyncratic entrusted with the weighty work of succeeding an Anfield icon successful Klopp, Slot has carried it comfortably successful his quiet, understated fashion.

Chelsea's walk completion complaint of 88.1% was the highest connected record, since 2003-04, by immoderate distant squad astatine Anfield successful a Premier League game. And yet, isolated from a mates of precocious scares, Liverpool gave disconnected an aerial of power that is accelerated becoming a Slot hallmark.

Maresca's broadside whitethorn person had the shot but Liverpool were solid, with lawman goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, successful for injured Alisson, seldom troubled.

Liverpool's passing accuracy of 85.9% this play is lone somewhat improved connected Klopp's last run (85.8%), portion Slot's broadside are playing less agelong balls per game, 22.6 arsenic opposed to 25.3 past term. While immoderate stats are similar, determination is simply a marked quality successful passes played into the box, with 39.3 per crippled nether Klopp past play and 28.9 nether Slot.

And determination is besides a much structured antiaircraft look to Slot's Liverpool, with the stats suggesting they are pressing little aggressively this season. They regained possession successful their attacking 3rd 6.1 times per crippled past season, portion that fig is present down to 4.3 times.

Liverpool were 4th champion successful the league by that measurement successful Klopp's farewell campaign. This season, nether Slot, they are down to ninth.

There are fewer immense differences statistically but this is undoubtedly a antithetic Liverpool to watch, not arsenic breathtaking oregon frenetic but truthful acold conscionable arsenic effective.

Chelsea really dominated possession astatine Anfield with 57.3%, portion Liverpool’s tally of 8 shots connected people was the fewest they person had successful a Premier League crippled astatine Anfield since February 2021.

Liverpool, however, ne'er felt nether siege oregon superior sustained pressure.

Slot accepted this was much a lawsuit of substance than benignant arsenic helium told BBC Sport: "Many different games were hard but this mightiness person been the hardest possibly due to the fact that of the magnitude of prime players they person and the operation they have. We had to combat truly hard to get this 1 implicit the line.

"We defended truthful beardown done the full team. There was unthinkable work-rate."

The Dutchman added: "The amended the teams you look the much you request to fight. In the Premier League determination are truthful galore bully teams, truthful if you privation to triumph astatine slightest you request to combat and past hopefully the individuals tin marque the difference.

"We showed up. That was the astir important thing."

Liverpool besides responded good to unit applied from down the M6 by Manchester City earlier connected Sunday - Guardiola's defending champions concisely returning to apical spot with a dramatic, arguable precocious triumph astatine Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Reds are backmost successful rod presumption earlier adjacent Sunday's sojourn to rubric rivals Arsenal, who are 4 points behind.

This was Liverpool's biggest trial connected 2 levels and the effect was awesome against a Chelsea broadside who are unquestionably connected the roadworthy to betterment nether Maresca, lone lacking the punch to spell with their possession.

Jones was the Anfield outfit's header enactment with arguably his finest show for the club, earning Salah's punishment and past seeing different spot-kick awarded erstwhile helium was bundled implicit successful a situation with Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, lone to spot it overturned by the video adjunct referee (VAR).

He not lone scored the victor but flung himself successful beforehand of Cole Palmer erstwhile Chelsea's in-form talisman looked poised to strike.

Liverpool-born Jones delivered the implicit show connected a time erstwhile his squad enactment down yet different marker that beingness astatine Anfield tin inactive flourish nether Slot successful the post-Klopp era.

In immoderate ways different, but conscionable the aforesaid successful truthful galore others.