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Rafa Benitez shares Arne Slot verdict and what Liverpool have more of since Jurgen Klopp exit

HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 5:   Rafael Benitez looks on prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Portugal and France at Volksparkstadion on July 5, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)


Rafa Benitez has delivered his verdict on the job Arne Slot is doing at Liverpool. The Dutchman has won 11 of his opening 12 games in charge at Anfield, which is a club record.

In the summer Slot took over from the legendary Jurgen Klopp - the first Reds boss to lead the club to Champions League glory since Benitez - and has made a huge impression.

But the 46-year-old faces his toughest test yet this afternoon when he takes his second-placed side to the Emirates Stadium to take on fourth-placed Arsenal.

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The Gunners have pushed Manchester City close in the title race in the past two seasons. But it appears Liverpool - the only club, under Klopp, to have won the Premier League other than City since 2017 - are now genuine challengers.

And ahead of the huge encounter, which gets under way at 4.30pm, Benitez has been offering his thoughts.

“We don't know yet how this Liverpool side will react to adversity under Slot, but I have been impressed by what I have seen so far,” said the 64-year-old to BBC Sport.

“Just because they have not been behind for very long in any of their games, does not mean they have not reacted and changed things during them, either.

“As well as watching them against Chelsea for Match of the Day 2 last weekend, I was at San Siro as a Uefa technical observer to see their Champions League win over AC Milan in September. Both times, they were very competitive.

“They have been playing with great intensity all these years under Jurgen Klopp and it is very difficult to alter that straight away. Also, as Slot has said himself, it would be crazy to change it immediately.

“So, he is keeping the good things Klopp had and, at the same time, he is giving them a little bit of defensive balance and organisation, which allows him to change their approach when he needs to.”

Liverpool have conceded five goals in 12 games - and just three in the Premier League, which is the best in the division - and already have seven clean sheets to their name.

And Benitez, who also led the Reds to a second Champions League final and an FA Cup win during his time at Anfield, continued: “Against Chelsea they were dropping off a little bit more, but they can still press high. Similarly, they can play penetrating passes forward, or they can use the wide areas and attack with the wingers overlapping.

“Slot is giving the team more tools, to be sure they can react and adjust depending on the opponent - or so they can impose their own way to play, because if they are much better than the other team they can control possession in the opposition half, and try to find ways to create chances.

“Overall, I think they have more balance and if they can continue to carry a threat in attack then we have already seen that they don't concede too many goals. Put that together, and it is the key to being successful.

“They are definitely on the right path, and in a good place to go to the Emirates on Sunday.

“Beating Arsenal will be a good challenge and a difficult test, but I think they have the belief that they can do it, and that is the main thing.”