Liverpool: The Great Journey From Bill Shankly to the Present
In the past, Bill Shankly won the hearts of Liverpool fans by leading the team to promotion and winning three national championships, laying a solid foundation for future success. Under Shankly’s leadership, Liverpool became a formidable force, paving the way for successors such as Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan.
In a short period of time, they won seven national championships and four European Cups, affirming Liverpool’s dominance in the European arena. Now, Liverpool continue to write their own story, inheriting the great legacy from the past and aiming to conquer new heights in world football.
Anfield Is Excited: The Hopes and Challenges of New Manager Arne Slot
Anfield fans are anxiously waiting to see if new manager Arne Slot can continue the great legacy of Liverpool like his predecessors Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan, rather than following in the footsteps of Graeme Souness. Under Bill Shankly, Liverpool built a solid foundation, with Paisley and Fagan continuing their success, taking the team to the top of both domestic and European football.
Kenny Dalglish, the last manager of the golden era, led Liverpool for 19 glorious years, winning 11 league titles and 4 European Cups, while only once finishing outside the top two in the league – the season Liverpool won the European Cup.
Dalglish’s surprise departure in 1991 paved the way for Graeme Souness, who failed to maintain the success and led Liverpool into a serious decline, with them failing to qualify for European competition since 1963. It was only when Jurgen Klopp took over that Liverpool returned to the top, winning trophies and winning the Premier League after a 30-year wait.
However, with Klopp announcing his departure before the end of the 2023-24 season, Liverpool are entering a new era under the leadership of Arne Slot. Slot, who has led Feyenoord to the league title and the Dutch Cup, promises to bring a fresh look to Liverpool. However, Anfield fans are left wondering whether Klopp’s legacy will be properly promoted and the team’s success will continue.
Trying to Limit Change: The Pressure on New Manager Arne Slot
Can new coach Arne Slot help Liverpool succeed? – AFP
When he left Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp joked that “we helped the new manager by not winning too much,” reflecting the enormous pressure his successor faces. Indeed, Liverpool’s failure to complete the quadruple last season was a reflection of the club’s failure to win the League Cup. With Arne Slot as his replacement, the big question is whether he will continue to maintain the status quo to maintain Liverpool’s position, or will he make significant changes to improve the team’s strength?
While Slot has stressed that there is only a small gap between Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, his aim is to bring about small improvements so Liverpool can compete for the title. Early signs from training sessions suggest that Slot is prioritizing “stabilization” rather than making major reforms. In addition, the summer pre-season has been disrupted by major tournaments such as the EURO and Copa America, making it more difficult to make big changes.
The biggest challenge that Klopp has not been able to solve, and which continues to be a challenge for Slot, is building a strong midfield. In addition, the use of Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right-back with a knack for attacking and organizing, continues to be a major issue. Centre-back Virgil Van Dijk, previously considered the best in the world, is entering a period of decline, and Mohamed Salah is also facing a crisis in his forward line.
With Liverpool entering a new era “post-Klopp”, Slot’s statement of “limited changes” may not be entirely appropriate. This year’s Premier League season promises to bring many interesting things to see where Liverpool will go under the leadership of Arne Slot.
