Featured Image Credit: ITV & LFC
Topics: Arne Slot, Liverpool, Fan Reactions
Josh Lawless
Arne Slot is already putting his own stamp on Liverpool and fans have noticed an immediate change in tactics from kick-off.
Though fans have been left frustrated by the lack of movement in the transfer market and a failure to secure top target Martin Zubimendi, Liverpool have impressed in pre-season.
The Reds battered Sevilla 4-1 in a friendly on Sunday, before a second side drew 0-0 against Las Palmas later on at Anfield.
Slot's style of play is already clear to see and looks to be a shift from the "heavy metal" football Jurgen Klopp was known for demanding from his team.
And one of the biggest changes is how Liverpool will start games this season thanks to a drastically different approach from kick-off.
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Against Sevilla, in the second half, Liverpool took kick off after conceding and patiently passed the ball around, encouraging their opponents onto them.
They played through their opponents, with Trent Alexander-Arnold finding Ryan Gravenberch, who sprayed the ball wide to set up an attack down the left.
Eventually the ball dropped to youngster Trey Nyoni, who produced a fine half volley effort just inside the area.
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But the whole kick-off strategy was a massive change from Klopp's, where Liverpool would play the ball back to the centre-backs and launch it up to the channel.
And Liverpool fans are very much in favour of the new approach.
One commented: "It was really interesting how we started from kick off against Sevilla. In previous seasons we usually start by kicking it to a CB who then launches it up into a corner of the pitch so we have a high chance of getting a throw in deep in the final third."
A second added: "It actually would drive me crazy how we would start every match that way. Was just a complete give away of the ball a good chunk of the time."
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A third added: "So no more playing the ball out for throwing 30 secs into every kickoff."
Another said: "Thank goodness - watching England do that in the Euros did my head in Keeping the ball from kickoff is a much better statement of intent."
A final person wrote: "FINALLY! Always hated the way Klopp instructed the boys' kick off."
It's worth noting that they did do a punt up the pitch after the break but the philosophy is undoubtedly different and there was even a new corner kick routine.
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Liverpool's first competitive game under Slot is an early kick-off against Ipswich Town on Saturday.