'They know' - Arne Slot on 'dark arts' and what Liverpool can expect at Arsenal

It may not quite be in the same league as his occasionally manic predecessor. But it is fast becoming an early iconic image of Arne Slot's fledgling Liverpool tenure.

When, deep into injury time during last weekend's Premier League showdown, referee John Brooks bewildered much of Anfield by penalising Darwin Nunez for tussling with Chelsea substitute Renato Veiga, the reaction of the Reds boss on the touchline - all flailing arms and pirouettes - was even more animated than his flabbergasted striker.

Given the cool, composed manner Slot had until that afternoon maintained in the dugout as Liverpool head coach, if not quite a case of the mask slipping then it was certainly a glimpse of the emotions coursing through the Dutchman, who had been booked earlier in the match after one vigorous protest too many.

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And it unwittingly enhanced the bond that has been growing with Liverpool supporters. Clearly, Slot is already one of their own.

"I think if I use my common sense then I would say we are role models," he says of the responsibility of managers on the touchline. "But we are also human beings and human beings have emotions. We sometimes feel - if it is right or wrong, let’s not judge that - that if too many decisions go against you, then emotions take the most out of you.

"I can only speak for myself but that’s the way it is with me. So I try to be calm but in my opinion, and again I am biased, in the Chelsea game too many important decisions, not minor ones, went against us in the first half."

Last weekend, then, could be regarded as ideal preparation for what is likely in store on Sunday in the mouthwatering clash at fellow title contenders Arsenal. While the Emirates could never be termed a bear pit, the atmosphere has markedly improved in recent times due to not only improved results but also home fans feeding off the agitated antics of boss Mikel Arteta.

Slot, though, isn't one for responding in kind - with one very important caveat. "No I don’t, unless I feel (the actions of an opposing manager) influences the referee," he says. "But I think we are in England with good referees so I haven’t seen that happen here.

"In the past I did see it one or two times, I don’t mean in Holland but when we played in Europe, I saw one or two managers that were able to influence the referee and then you feel you maybe need to do something against that.

"But here in England I haven’t experienced that at all. The referees are just not being influenced by my emotional act on Sunday and that has also not happened in all the previous games that I’ve managed here before."

Arsenal's ascent back towards the Premier League summit under Arteta has also seen them gain a reputation of occasionally turning to the grubbier side of game management, which was particularly prevalent last month as they attempted to see out a win at champions Manchester City with 10 men only to concede an equaliser deep in injury time.

And while City have also not been averse to such an approach when required, Slot instead prefers to concentrate on the positives. "If I look at Arsenal and City it doesn't even come to my mind about tactical fouls or dark arts, it only comes to my mind how well they play," he says.

"And that both teams for every second of the game have an idea what they want, what their principles are how they want to play.

"Both teams are very well managed and you can see that at both clubs there are two managers who have worked there for a long time because they implemented a playing style now for every second. That is what comes to mind when I think about Arsenal and City."

Nor does the Reds boss believe his players will be affected by any possible spoiling tactics. "It's your (the media) words that they are implementing those tactics," says Slot. "The only thing I know is that my players are experienced and they know how to handle certain situations.

"I am not using the word streetwise, I am using the word experienced and you have to cope with if the other team is better than you and how you react in those moments but again if I think about City and Arsenal and even Liverpool I think about the quality of the players and the quality of their playing style and not those other things."

Liverpool have a number of injury concerns for the Emirates showdown. Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker and Harvey Elliott are all out, while the game is likely to come too soon for Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa, who are instead eyeing a return for the League Cup tie at Brighton on Wednesday.

With the midweek 1-0 Champions League win at RB Leipzig moving Slot's record-breaking start on to 11 wins from 12 games, the Reds can remain top of the Premier League with victory over Arsenal that would open up the gap on the Gunners to seven points at this early stage of the campaign.

Arteta's side finished seven points ahead of third-placed Liverpool last season in pushing City closest for the title for the second year running. But regardless of the outcome on Sunday, Slot is convinced Arsenal are going nowhere.

"They had a good chance last year but they have a good chance in the upcoming years as well because they have a quality manager and many quality players," he says. "In every transfer window they have tried to improve the team even further which is always what you need because other teams around you do the same.

"They have enough quality to compete for the league this year and if Mikel stays and the team stays and if he can bring in the winter window and the summer window more players in he will have that chance.

"But the margins are so small that you are never sure who is going to win the league here in England. They are one of the title contenders that is clear for me for last season, for this season, and if Mikel stays, also for the upcoming seasons."