Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to the Premier League title at the first time of asking and in doing so has emulated the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti
Arne Slot joined an exclusive club on Sunday as he led Liverpool to the Premier League title. In doing so he became just the fifth man to achieve the feat in his debut season.
The Dutchman was handed the daunting task of replacing Jurgen Klopp 12 months ago but has made light of the challenge, leading the Reds exceptionally. They’ve remained consistent whilst all those around them have fallen away with their champion status a case of when, rather than if, for months.
Slot enjoyed a stellar start and has been dealt very few setbacks, especially in the Premier League. He’s only had to taste defeat twice and has often come up trumps in the big games, securing wins at both Manchester clubs.
He lapped up the Anfield atmosphere as those on Merseyside were able to celebrate league success with the players for the first time in 35 years. The likes of Pep Guardiola and Klopp were unable to deliver title glory in their first years.
Slot has four games left to complete what already is a sensational campaign with the 90-point mark now within his sights. Their run-in includes a clash at Anfield against Arsenal, where Liverpool can underline their champion tag with a victory.
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Liverpool under the Dutchman have the potential to reach 94 points – which would be the fifth highest tally by a champion outfit – with 29 wins still possible should they succeed in all four of their remaining games. It would also represent the second highest points tally by a new Premier League boss in his first season.
As he prepares to become just the fifth man to lift the trophy in his debut season we take a look at how the former Feyenoord boss measures up against those who have come before him.
Jose Mourinho – Chelsea 2004-05
P38, W29, D8, L1 – Pts 95
As impacts go this was really quite something, which began with the “I think I’m a special one” press conference. The defending European champion more than backed up his claim as Chelsea set the standard in England, leaving behind all those who tried to catch them. Defensively they were almost unbreakable and they won the title at a canter, also adding the Carling Cup, as it was known then. Slot can still equal Mourinho on 29 wins but the points tally is slightly beyond him.
Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea 2009-10
P38, W27, D5, L6 – Pts 86
He left AC Milan and arrived at the Blues as a two-time Champions League winner. Like Mourinho before him he had to stop the Sir Alex Ferguson juggernaut and the two sides went at it until the final day, where Chelsea won out. Their goalscoring exploits were impressive but they were by no means extraordinary pacesetters and Slot looks set to exceed the Italian’s efforts – albeit Ancelotti may be keen to point out he also landed the FA Cup in his first year.
Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City 2013-14
P38, W27, D5, L6 – Pts 86
Manchester City’s second Premier League triumph owed slightly to a Steven Gerrard slip. They and Liverpool were neck and neck in the title race but a loss to Chelsea at Anfield opened the door for Pellegrini. Six losses though is quite a lot for a side who went on to be champions and Pellegrini never scaled such heights again before being ushered out of the door for Guardiola. He, like Mourinho, did claim two trophies in his first year.
Antonio Conte – Chelsea 2016-17
P38, W30, D3, L5 – Pts 93
The Italian didn’t start brilliantly and lost two of his first five games before putting together what was then a record-breaking run of wins. That allowed Chelsea to take control of the title race and they never looked back. His number of wins was also a record at the time but Slot could yet eclipse Conte’s points tally, even if he can’t quite match the 30 wins.
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