The summer of 2024 was a wary one for the Liverpool fans. After nine years at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp decided it was time to leave, and Arne Slot was announced as his replacement. Many expected that Slot’s adaptation and the team’s transformation under the new tactics could take a while as the manager lacked top-level experience.
Reality has been much better than even what the most optimistic fans expected. The Reds are first in the Premier League, firmly on their way to claim the title, and have also won the newly-introduced League Phase in the UEFA Champions League.
Going forward, Liverpool are considered the favourites to win Europe’s most prestigious competition.Football betting tips experts agree that Slot’s men are among the most in-form teams this season. The seventh Champions League trophy does not look like an unattainable dream.
But before talking about the future, it is worth analysing the past to see how the Reds got to the point where they are the best-positioned team to win the UEFA Champions League.
September: Almost-Ideal Start vs AC Milan
The League Phase started for the Reds with an away trip to AC Milan. The match at San Siro started with a quick goal from Christian Pulisic, who opened the scoring in the third minute. However, as the remaining minutes would prove, that goal was only a fluke.
Liverpool got back into the game thanks to goals from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk after set pieces. In the second half, Dominik Szoboszlai hit the nail in Milan’s coffin with a simple finish after a swift counter.
With three points in the bag, the Reds placed seventh in the overall ranking after Matchday 1.
October: Confident Wins Home and Away
In October, Slot and the team had two games in their European calendar in October: Bologna at home and RB Leipzig away. These two teams were considered to be dark horses at the start of the season.
Nevertheless, the Reds got an easy victory at home against Bologna thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah. The Italians, on the other hand, barely created any danger.
The game in Germany ended only 1-0 in favour of the Reds. ‘Only’ because Liverpool created enough chances to easily net three goals that game but Darwin Núñez’s strike in the first half remained the only goal of the game.
With a perfect record at the end of October, Liverpool found themselves second in the ranking, tied with Aston Villa on points.
November: The Real Test vs Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid
In November Liverpool took on the Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen and La Liga and Champions League title holders Real Madrid, both at home.
The game against Xabi Alonso’s team started with an intense and nervous first half. The second half was a whole different story, as Liverpool improved in transition and scored four goals: a hat-trick from Luis Diaz and another goal by Cody Gakpo.
Somewhat similar was the encounter with Real Madrid, as the first 45 minutes ended in a goalless draw. After the break, though, Alexis Mac Allister put the Reds ahead. Then followed two missed penalties, from Kylian Mbappe and Mo Salah. The finishing punch came later through Gakpo, as he made the score 2-0 to cement the team’s perfect run.
With 15 points out of 15 possible, Liverpool finished November as the sole leaders of the League Phase.
December: Continuing the streak
The only game of December was the trip to La Liga sensation Girona. The hosts had the initiative in the first minutes and almost scored. However, Liverpool soon got the game under control and created chance after chance, although failing to capitalise on their advantage. The only goal of the game came through Salah in the second half as he converted the penalty kick.
It was the sixth straight win for Slot & co. Obviously, the Reds remained on top of the League Phase standings.
January: Securing First Spot
In the last month of the League Phase, the Reds faced Lille at home and PSV on the road.
The match against the French side was a calm 2-1 win with Salah and Harvey Elliott on the scoreboard. This win confirmed that Liverpool would finish in the first or second spot at worst.
With the competition goals met, Slot rotated the squad heavily in the match against PSV. The reserves unfortunately lost the match in the Netherlands 3-2, and the perfect streak reached its end.
Liverpool’s spot was in danger at some point but Atalanta thankfully held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw in the parallel game and the loss to PSV did not impact the standings. The Reds finished first in the first ever League Phase!
Image Source: unsplash.com
