Arne Slot could be used as a dictionary definition for cool, calm and collected – but even he must have some moments where his achievements so far at Liverpool take him aback.
Maybe it sinks in when he is sitting in his Aston Martin, stuck in the inevitable traffic on his daily commute. Or maybe when he is cooped up in his office poring over analysis clips.
Seven wins from seven and into the knockout stages of the Champions League without even a tiny blemish, top of the Premier League with just one defeat and still in both domestic cups. We will not discuss the ‘Q’ word just yet but soon it will become a hard conversation to put off.
French side Lille, who played the last half hour with 10 men after Aissa Mandi was sent off, were the latest inmate to be welcomed to the so-called ‘Slot penitentiary’ after Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott goals helped keep up Liverpool’s perfect record in Europe under the Dutch boss.
As the full-time whistle sounded at Anfield, Liverpool were set to secure top spot but a late goal in Lisbon, Barcelona dramatically coming from behind to win 5-4, meant they will have to wait until next week’s trip to PSV Eindhoven to confirm their status as league winners.
How much that matters is yet to be seen, as is the depth of Liverpool’s motivation to win the group stage of this new-look Champions League – the Swiss model system that fans, players and managers still seem unsure over whether they love or hate.
Mohamed Salah scored his 50th goal in the Champions League for Liverpool on Tuesday night
It was seventh heaven for Arne Slot who has a 100 per cent record in the Champions League
Harvey Elliott (right) helped Liverpool claim their seventh straight win in Europe this season
Liverpool supporters are definitely in the category of loving the new regime, mind. So far on their European ventures this season, they have toppled German champions Bayer Leverkusen, continental kings Real Madrid – plus a convincing win in the San Siro against Milan to boot.
Lille are far from a household name at Europe’s top table but Bruno Genesio’s side are no mugs – fifth in Europe and third in Ligue Un – and came to Anfield on a 21-match unbeaten run. That streak contained nine draws, to be fair, but the 2021 French champions are a tough nut to crack.
There had also been a manufactured debate about Salah’s form after the Egyptian had gone three games without a goal or assist. To be fair, after registering 38 in his first 27 games of the season, a fortnight-long drought feels like a full-blown crisis for a player of this standard.
But tough times never last long for Salah and soon he was back doing what he does best: curling a shot from the right-hand side of the box with his left foot. Curtis Jones deserves credit for splitting open the defence like a hot knife through butter with his ball from deep.
That was Salah’s 50th European goal for Liverpool – he is already top of that list in the club’s history, nine clear of Steven Gerrard – and it should have been 51 on the stroke of half-time as Lille were again cut open with a long ball, this time from Luis Diaz, but he shot wide.
‘Special, that is the word to describe Mo’s performance at this club,’ said Slot. ‘He has been outstanding at this club for so many years.’ Asked if he can get another 50 European goals for Liverpool, Salah himself added: ‘I’m not sure about that but I’ll give it my best!’
Salah, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah and Alexis Mac Allister queued up to miss chances to extend the lead and it felt like a matter of time before a second went in. Those thoughts were ramped up on the hour mark when Mandi was shown a second yellow for a bad tackle on Diaz.
Down to 10 men and a goal down at Anfield, it felt like Lille had a mountain to climb. But out of nowhere, with the next action, they were level with their first shot on target.
Salah’s opener sets the Reds on the way to a hard-fought victory over the French side
Jonathan David levelled the scoring in the 62nd minute when Lille were down to 10
Liverpool didn’t have a standout game but as it seems to be in the Slot era, they didn’t need one
Lille toiled at Anfield but caused Liverpool problems – with 10 and 11 men on the pitch
Their task was not made easier when Aissa Mandi was handed his marching orders after a bad tackle on Luis Diaz
Slot has fast become the envy of Europe as his Liverpool side continue to dominate both at home and away
Hakon Haraldsson saw an effort blocked by Tsimikas and then Jonathan Davi, a regular in transfer gossip columns, followed up to tap home the rebound.
Those who had travelled from northern France were by now in good voice but their side were level for a mere five minutes. Substitute Elliott unleashed an audacious effort from 25 yards after a clearance fell to him and, via the help of Ngal’ayel Mukau’s unlucky outstretched leg, it went in.
So although Slot may walk with a poker-face and talk about nothing being won yet – rightly so, to be fair – he must have some moments where it all sinks in just how well he is doing after stepping into the sizable shoes of following on from legendary boss Jurgen Klopp.
Knowing him and the leadership group at Anfield, there will be no means of celebration for all but winning the group or their standing in other competitions. But the next month is season-defining with some tricky away league clashes and a Carabao Cup semi-final.
There was much talk of the elusive ‘Quadruple’ in 2022 only for them to only – yes, only – win two trophies. We will not go there yet but one thing that must be said is that the behemoths that stood in Liverpool’s way then, Manchester City and Real Madrid, are significantly weaker now.
For now, fans will just revel in the fine job their new boss is doing. A knockout round in Europe to look forward to, a tussle for a 20th English league title and still in two cups. Still early days, but the Slot Machine is the envy of the whole continent right now.
