When Arne Slot was asked to sum up the calendar year of 2024 for himself on a personal note this weekend, the Dutch coach admitted for the first time that Liverpool might suit him more — or be an even better place for him — than Feyenoord.

He brushed over that a little instead choosing to focus on the one defeat he had with either club in the last 12 months: Nottingham Forest at Anfield in September. At the time of writing, of course, that result looks a lot less bad than it did at the time — Nuno Espirito Santo's men now sit second, albeit eight points behind the Reds.

It still stings but Liverpool has clearly learned from that game. As well as only losing once, it has only drawn with Arsenal, Newcastle United and Fulham. The latter two can be explained by a goalkeeping error and a red card.

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Everything that has come Slot's way on the field, he has adapted quickly. Nothing seems to take him by surprise. And that extends to the line of questioning from reporters too.

"The way he celebrated that goal tells you enough," Slot replied during his post-West Ham press conference when asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold's fingers to his ears move could signal something to do with Real Madrid.

"I don't think I have to say much more about it. I'm really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo [Salah] and Virgil [van Dijk], so for me there's no difference. Maybe in the outside world but I'm really happy with all three."

Like Alexander-Arnold when he sets Salah away down the right wing with a pass no one else saw, it was expertly manouevered. Slot probably anticipated such a question and he had prepared a response.

Pressed on what control he might have over what talks each of the three soon-to-be out-of-contract stars might have from January 1 onward, Slot was equally ready to bat the issue aside.

"I think I have a lot of control over what they do if they are on the training pitch or if they are in a meeting with me," he said. "But talking about their private lives, I don't have control about them.

"That was the situation I had a year ago, it's been the situation for as long as I've been a manager, but I have control to a certain extent over them from what I expect from them on the pitch. I am really pleased to see what Virgil [van Dijk] brings, what Trent brings and what Mo brings.

"The positive thing for me is that for four or five months, it was only Trent, Mo and Virgil you guys were talking about and I assume — don't let me down, please! — that people now are going to talk about every player we are going to bring in in the upcoming month and which other players are going to leave. I guess a lot of questions as well, not only about these three!"

Cool, calm and with all the answers required amid a title race, Slot was just like his team. While he would always insist that Feyenoord is a big club, he would probably privately admit that there is a substantial gulf in pressure and scrutiny too — and yet he is dealing with it instantly.

Slot's joke about wanting to be asked about the January window will no doubt be tested sooner rather than later, not least now he has given the green light. What isn't likely to be tested, however, is ability to come up with the ideal answer.