John Arne Riise thinks that the calmness and collected attitude of Arne Slot is behind the sizzling season of Liverpool.
Slot, 46, sent the Reds to a six-point lead on the Premier League top, which they have saved with a 2-0 way over Bournemouth. If the Reds achieve a victory against Everton in the rear -up Merseyside Derby on 12 February, their lead could extend to nine points.
This Thursday, the ex-Feyenoord manager also has the chance to secure Liverpool a place in the Carabao Cup final, although they have to reverse a 1-0 deficit of the first stage against Tottenham Hotspur. Nobody knew for sure how the team would perform under lock after he took over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
Riise, who won the Champions League, the League Cup and the FA Cup in Liverpool between 2001 and 2008, believes that he knows exactly where the Dutchman has been so crucial.
While he said with the Liverpool Echo on behalf of Bet365, Riise said: “Well, I think everyone was a bit excited and didn't know what to expect, really when he arrived. Of course we didn't know much about him, apart from that he did It really good in his former club.
“But he just came in with a calmness. I was lucky now to meet him a few times while he in Anfield and the way he speaks, what he looks like during the Games on the couch, he sees it so under control out.
“He knows what he is doing. The players respond to his tactics in training, so he looks like he and his coaching team are really busy with the players and they love it.”
Given that the Reds only signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus in his first transfer window, Slot has the expectations in an explicit way. While they also go to the top of the Premier League scales, they were also dominant in the Champions League, with seven victories in eight games, including convincing triumphs about Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
They quickly became the favorite of many people to win the European Elite competition and the Premier League. Riise is one of those figures who believe that Liverpool could do something very special this season.
The Norwegian added: “I think, just like me and many others, I am a little surprised by how well they did it in both the Premier League and in the Champions League. I think they play excellent football.
“Arne Slot came up with some ideas and really changed, well, just kept going from Jurgen Klopp and made it even better. So I think they can go completely.
“But I think it will be difficult, because the Champions League is of course only two games and a lot can happen. But I certainly think I think we'll win in the Premier League.”
After hosting Tottenham in Anfield in the second stage of their semi -final on Thursday, the Reds travel to the southwest for a FA Cup fourth round collision with Plymouth Argyle on Sunday.
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