Revealed: The SECRET behind Arne Slot's winning formula | OneFootball

Liverpool were understandably nervy at the end of last season when Jurgen Klopp left, but Arne Slot has been a breathe of fresh air on Merseyside and his coaching methods worked immediately.

The Dutchman was etched his name into the club's folklore this season, winning the Premier League title and everyone is incredibly envious of how he managed to pull off such an extraordinary feat.

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While some will claim otherwise, the English top flight is regarded by most to be the toughest domestic league in Europe. Every single team competing in it poses a serious threat to everyone else.

Liverpool fans are well aware that two of the four highest points totals in Premier League history were unsuccessful in winning the title and this year, disrupting Arsenal and Manchester City was going to be a pretty tough ask, especially given the Reds only spent £12.5m in the summer.

But just over 10 months later, the Reds have lifted the iconic trophy and notched the club's 20th league title, equalling the record set by Manchester United. Defying all expectations, Slot's team had achieved the unthinkable. Here's one of the main reasons as to how he got us across the line.

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The nurturing approach outlasted all others

Liverpool already had a competitive team when Slot arrived. Having notched 82 points in the season prior, which was just nine points off the eventual winners Man City and 14 points clear of Aston Villa in fourth, it was merely Liverpool's form that had let the team down in the end.

Across the last five games of the 2023/24 campaign, we won twice, drew twice and lost once - which equates to seven dropped points, the gap between the Reds and Arsenal in second.

This was the result of a variety of different factors, not least the players' fitness as well as coaching to a certain degree. In the end, this season and last season's goals scored, goals conceded and points will likely look almost identical to Klopp's efforts last season, but there's one major difference.

Liverpool won the league with this year with four games to go, which has since led to a drinking and holiday-induced drop-off, rather than a natural decline from a level that Liverpool couldn't remain at.

Speaking to James Pearce at The Athletic, reflecting on Liverpool's disappointing first-half against Brighton back in November, Slot offered an insight into how the team has excelled this season.

He said: "I don't think it helps to be 15 to 20 times angry at half-time over a season. You have to save these moments for when it really matters. Nine times out of ten, I am only angry if I feel there is no work rate.

"There was no need to be [against Brighton] because the players had worked hard but the other team just did things differently to how we expected... It was smarter to adjust things rather than be angry.

"This team in general always works very hard. I have the same approach with my children. If they don't work hard, I can be hard on them. But if they work hard and things don't go great at school or something else goes wrong, I will never be hard on them."

As such, last season felt very much like a sort of 'the referees are against us' type of season, where we perhaps got carried away with issues outside of our control - the injury collapse, for example.

Of course, the players were fitter and more prepared for the season than before, but Liverpool's mentality was different. The manager kept a far cooler head than any of us might've expected from him and freedom that the players are able to play with has allowed the team to succeed.

To be clear, this is not a slant on Klopp whatsoever, the German's management style was as if he was a fan in the stands at Anfield just like the fans. We all wanted the best for the team and the 'heavy-metal' rollercoaster of football under Slot was relentless in its pursuit of greatness.

But Slot seems to have identified a formula to irradiate the pressure and stresses of the Premier League, through a steely determination and self-belief that we're on the right track.

The style of play was adapted to a more compact formation, where the opposition was hit with countless passes, alongside the occasional long-ball, and Liverpool's multi-faceted attack shone.

How next season will go is another story. After all, this period has probably been the best time to be a Liverpool fan, so it'll take some topping, but the Reds are serious contenders for future success.