- Rio Ferdinand insisted that Arne Slot is not the manager of the season so far
- The Man United legend tipped Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to win the award
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford
Rio Ferdinand clashed with Owen Hargreaves over their Premier League Manager of the Season picks.
The former Man United team-mates fought in Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot’s corners, and came to blows over which boss is more deserving of the award so far.
Liverpool and Chelsea lie first and third in the table respectively, as Slot’s men maintain a healthy six-point lead over Arsenal in second, and still have a game in hand.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, the six-time Premier League winner argued in favour of Maresca, citing the Blues’ impressive turnaround from last season, where they finished a disappointing sixth place.
He said: ‘It’s not a big difference. I just think Maresca has come in and took a team from being a circus, a calamity…’
Hargreaves quickly interrupted Ferdinand to credit the Chelsea manager but provided a direct response, arguing that Liverpool’s domestic and European form speaks for itself.
Rio Ferdinand argued in favour of Maresca over Slot for the Manager of the Season award
Hargreaves argued that Slot deserves the award because of Liverpool’s all-around dominance
‘He’s done unbelievable. But I’m saying if you’re top of the league, best team in the Champions League, it’s Arne. Not even a [question],’ he said.
‘No, no, no, I think he’s great. But I’m saying the level of change within the clubs is very different. [Maresca] has closed that margin more,’ Ferdinand replied.
‘[Slot] has had a wonderfully settled ship. The ownership in Chelsea is so fragmented, it’s in the papers every other day.
‘[Slot] has had a new sporting director but it’s not unstable. It’s still a stable environment. There’s no noise. When Klopp was there, there was no noise.
‘I’m fighting Maresca’s corner. He’s had more fires to put out than probably half of the league. And he’s stomped them out.
‘It’s my show, my views,’ he added sarcastically.
‘Get Rio some water,’ laughed Hargreaves.
Slot has racked up some impressive results in his short tenure on Merseyside, breaking some long-standing club and league records.
The Dutchman has won 22 of his 26 games as Liverpool boss so far – an 84 per cent win rate
Only Liverpool (40) have scored more goals than Chelsea (38) in the Premier League this term
His side won 14 of their first 16 league games, making him the most successful Premier League manager in history over this many games.
As well as this, Liverpool won their first six away games of the season under the Dutchman, a first for any manager in the club’s 132-year history.
However, goalkeeper Alisson Becker said this current Reds team is not a patch on the all-conquering side under Jurgen Klopp that won the Champions League and Premier League.
When asked if this season compares to 2019-20 when they won their first league title in three decades, the Brazil No 1 said: ‘I don’t think it’s too similar, it’s two different teams. A few players still play in the team but we have a little bit different style now.
‘More ball possession, before it was really straightforward: a lot of transition, a lot of intensity. That team was really special, we achieved great things, it was the first Premier League title for this club in a long time. We achieved the Champions League together as well.’
