'I warned what would happen with Arne Slot at Liverpool and now I've been proven right'

Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen says he is not shocked in the slightest at Liverpool performing so well under the guidance of Arne Slot. In fact, he actually predicted the transition would be smooth during the summer.

Up to this point in the season, Liverpool has won 15 out of its 17 matches with Slot at the helm. The Reds lead the Premier League by five points and are at the top of the Champions League table too ahead of a crucial week that includes fixtures against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

"I predicted that Slot could hit the ground running at Liverpool, partly because he has a completely different character to Erik ten Hag at Manchester United," Meulensteen told Tribal Football. "He had to follow in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp which are big shoes to fill, but he came in and didn’t change too much. He just tweaked a few little things and used it to his strength.

"He is a great communicator with a clear vision and knew what he wanted to take with him from Feyenoord. He is very different from Ten Hag in that way who came across as a bit dour at times. Having said that, Ten Hag had a decent first season before he failed to kick on in the second season."

Liverpool will hope, of course, that Slot can press on again and continue to get his team playing at the same level for the rest of the campaign, at which point a major piece of silverware would surely be secured. And having already played Arsenal away as well as the likes of Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen at home, the argument that the Reds haven't faced anyone good yet no longer applies.

Heading into a crucial period of the season over the festive period, Slot will need some good fortune with injuries. He is expected to deliver a full injury round-up in tomorrow's press conference in Kirkby.

Liverpool.com says: The transition has been smoother even than Slot probably dared to hope. He has taken to the role really well and there is no doubt that things have gone brilliantly for him so far. Now the challenge is to ensure that continues.

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