Replacing a Great Manager Is Never Easy but Slot Didn’t Get That Memo at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot / AP Photo
Liverpool manager Arne Slot / AP Photo
TT
20

Replacing a Great Manager Is Never Easy but Slot Didn’t Get That Memo at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot / AP Photo
Liverpool manager Arne Slot / AP Photo

You could say he has slotted in just fine.

Arne Slot clearly didn't get the memo that it's supposed to be a near-impossible job to follow a club great as manager.

Take David Moyes after replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Moyes lasted 10 months.

Or Unai Emery after replacing Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Emery lasted an uncomfortable 18 months.

These are very early days but Slot has barely put a foot wrong since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager following the popular German's nearly nine years in the dugout, according to The AP. Klopp forged such a connection with the port city and its soccer-mad people that he was compared with Bill Shankly, the club’s most legendary manager.

Maybe it's because, at the moment, Slot's Liverpool doesn't look too much different to Klopp's team.

Two Premier League matches. Two wins. Two clean sheets.

There was even a convincing win over Manchester United in a preseason game in the United States, which is never a bad thing when it comes to getting fans of the Reds onside.

There are bigger challenges to come, of course. Starting on Sunday when Liverpool plays United for real, this time in the league at Old Trafford in what is historically the biggest match in English soccer between the country's two most successful teams.

While United opted to stick with its manager, Erik ten Hag, despite a woeful eighth-place finish last season, Liverpool's hand was forced by Klopp's decision to step down after a tenure that included a Premier League and a Champions League title.

Slot was regarded as a natural successor because of his style of play which, while not as intense and suffocating, is still very attacking and high-energy like Klopp's.

Indeed, Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s new sporting director who identified Slot as Klopp's replacement, said during the summer that the Dutchman's coaching philosophy and approach “lend really well with the kind of squad we have, the supporters and the football club as a whole.”

Hence why, to the frustration of some Liverpool fans, the club has felt it necessary to sign only one player so far in the first transfer window of the new era — and even that was a goalkeeper, Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has been sent back on loan to the team from which he was bought. It could be two before the transfer window closes on Friday, having agreed to sign Italy winger Federico Chiesa from Juventus.

In short, Slot feels it's tough to improve on what he has and will go about making only tweaks here and there to put his own stamp on the lineup in its bid to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal, the two top teams over the last two years, for the Premier League title.

Take this stat from Sunday's 2-0 win at Brentford: Liverpool completed 92% of its passes, which — according to Premier League statistics supplier Opta — is the team's highest on record (since 2003-04) in a Premier League game.

That fits with a comment made in preseason by Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, who said the aim now is to “have all the ball and completely kill a team.”

Initially, it feels like there's less chaos, and more control, in Slot's team.

However, look at the goals scored against Brentford and they still bore the imprints of the Klopp era. There was the rapid counterattack, launched after clearing a Brentford corner, that was finished off by Luis Diaz, and a strike by Mohamed Salah after the ball was won back high up the field by heavy pressing.

For the moment, the results are coming because the same players are doing the same things they did under Klopp.

In that sense, Slot is playing it clever and not trying to change too much too quickly, something which Moyes and Emery perhaps got wrong when they headed up new eras at other English soccer superpowers.

Indeed, 11 years after Ferguson's retirement, United is still trying to rediscover its identity, with Ten Hag the fifth permanent manager since (plus three interim coaches).

Not that everything is rosy for Slot.

There's still the thorny issue of perhaps his best three players — Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold — all having contracts ending after this season. Alexander-Arnold created a bit of a stir on social media with his reaction to being substituted early against Brentford.

Slot also has yet to find a solution to his one clear concern about the team — at the base of its midfield. An attempt to buy Spain international Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad failed this month and he has been using Ryan Gravenberch, a midfielder who might be better going forward, as the most deep lying of the central-midfield three.

Otherwise, Slot has been charming in news conferences — much like Klopp was — and, tellingly, makes it his mantra to be praiseworthy of the team in general instead of focusing on any individual.

Most importantly, his team has been winning games.

And none are bigger than against Manchester United. Being at Liverpool only a few months won't stop Slot knowing that.



Behind the Fight: Firmino Tells How Arab Champions Are Made

Behind the Fight: Firmino Tells How Arab Champions Are Made
TT
20

Behind the Fight: Firmino Tells How Arab Champions Are Made

Behind the Fight: Firmino Tells How Arab Champions Are Made

By: Lulwah Alangari

From the heart of the vibrant combat sports scene in the Middle East, the spotlight does not shine solely on those who step into the cage — it also illuminates the quiet figures behind the curtain who discover, nurture, and build champions carrying their nations’ dreams to the world stage.

At the forefront of these figures stands Brazilian Gustavo Firmino, Vice President of Fighter Affairs and Matchmaker at the Professional Fighters League (PFL), a man who has dedicated his life to finding Arab talent and guiding them from amateur arenas to the heights of international professionalism.

Firmino’s journey began in Bahrain when he joined BRAVE Combat Federation to manage events and special MMA projects, later coordinating fights and overseeing athlete relations. He recalled those beginnings with a wide smile in his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, saying he would always be grateful to Mr. Mohammed Shahin and Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for trusting him to start this path.

When he later moved to PFL MENA, he found himself facing an even more ambitious project. Building a regional league directly connected to global championships was not just a job — “it was a beautiful dream we’re realizing every day,” he said. “We’re not just creating fights; we’re drawing long journeys for Arab talents to reach the world stage.”

Despite years behind a desk, his genuine passion for martial arts flows like a lifeline through his words. He speaks enthusiastically about his childhood filled with Bruce Lee movies, which later led him to practice judo, then jiu-jitsu in Brazil, and even boxing and Muay Thai in Indonesia. Laughing, he says: “This isn’t just a job... it’s who I am.”

When asked about his criteria for selecting fighters, Firmino confidently explained that skill alone is not enough — he looks for discipline, hunger, and a story worth telling. This is what makes him a true talent scout, picking hidden stories from dozens of names and turning them into shining stars in the ring. He proudly recounted the story of Egyptian fighter Mohamed Fahmy, who had competed in small tournaments with barely any recorded footage. Yet his background in judo, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling convinced Firmino of his potential. He signed him for the lightweight tournament — and Fahmy defeated the world runner-up in his debut last year. “Those moments are priceless,” Firmino said, shaking his head in admiration.

He also noted that he sometimes spots unknown champions through social media and keeps an eye on Arabs making their mark abroad, such as Morocco’s Salahdine Hamli, who rose in Spain and this year reached the lightweight semi-final against Algeria’s Souhil Tahiri.

When the conversation turned to challenges, particularly sudden withdrawals due to injuries or emergencies, Firmino didn’t hesitate to say the path is not always smooth. “Sometimes a fighter pulls out a week before the fight — or even days before. Luckily, our region is rich with fighters ready to seize the opportunity.” He cited an example when Abdullah Al-Qahtani withdrew due to injury, and his replacement also had to step down for family reasons. In the end, Algerian Akram Nersi stepped up at the last moment and delivered an impressive performance despite his lack of experience. With a glowing smile, Firmino added: “That’s the Arab fighter’s heart that amazes me.”

Firmino acknowledged that combat sports infrastructure is not yet equal across the Arab world. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Lebanon have made significant strides, while other countries are still at the beginning. But he insists the growth is remarkable and the outlook promising.

For young people aspiring to enter the sport, his advice is clear: start at a professional gym, build a strong amateur career, and then sign with a manager who can guide them properly.

When asked to name fighters he is particularly proud of, Firmino instantly mentioned Egyptian Omar El Dafrawy, who turned his career from a series of losses to becoming a welterweight champion; Iranian Mohsen Mohammadseifi, whom he followed from BRAVE until he became PFL’s lightweight champion in 2024; and Saudi Arabia’s Hattan Alsaif, the first Saudi female fighter under the PFL banner.

Speaking of her with notable admiration, he said: “She’s not just a pioneer — she has a winner’s mentality. It’s not enough for her to be the first; she wants to be the best. I’m confident she’ll inspire many Saudi women... just watch what’s coming.”

He continued to speak passionately about the new wave of Saudi fighters, describing them as having “a different mindset.” They don’t compete just to participate, but to win and raise their country’s flag. He spoke with pride of Malik Basahl, who shone in his professional debut, and Abdulaziz Bin Moammar, who showed impressive skill even in his amateur debut. He concluded with a special mention of Abdullah Al-Qahtani, who became PFL MENA’s first featherweight champion in 2024.

When asked about his expectations for the next season, he laughed: “It’s impossible to predict... every fight can change everything, and that’s what makes this league truly exciting.” But he was more certain when talking about the future of Arabs in the sport, confidently asserting that the Arab region will produce world champions in combat sports within a few years — especially with focused programs to discover amateur talent and guide them to professionalism.

He ended the interview with a decisive look that reflected his deep belief: "This is just the beginning... the future is ours."