Liverpool's new season begins with a defeat in Wembley with all “blockbuster”. If you have not yet found a balance, Arne Slot can call Jose Mourinho!
Jose Mourinho's position is very clear, after becoming the first coach to win the Premier League championship in the first season in power. He declared a challenge: “The next season, the other teams know how we are strong and they have to improve. But if they are still the same, they don't have a chance.”
Like many Mourinho's predictions in his first phase in the Premier League, he was right. After leading Chelsea to the championship in 2005, Mourinho successfully brought another title in the next season – although he predicted, it was no longer smooth as before.
The Portuguese military leader is still the only coach to win the Premier League championship in both his first and second season. Meanwhile, only Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are managers who have won at least two consecutive Premier League championships.
Arne Slot has the opportunity to join that list after his debut season in Liverpool – but don't expect him to be arrogant about the challenge ahead like Mourinho used to. The Dutch strategist tends to keep his thoughts and only reveal a little when talking publicly. When mentioning his team recently, he said: “These players also have to take a step forward because our opponent does not stand still.”
Despite having spent nearly £ 300 million on new contracts this summer, Slot also pointed out the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez is “not mentioned”. It is unusual for a Premier League champion to lose their best players.
The launch of 4 new players in the English Super Cup – the most number in Liverpool's first match in the new season since the 2015/16 season – has highlighted the transition period that Liverpool is facing. And to worsen the situation, Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace despite having 2 led (with both new recruits) in Wembley.
When Mourinho's Chelsea won the Premier League in 2004/05 with 12 points more than the chasing group, only conceding 15 goals throughout the tournament, they targeted every “weak” area that was noticed in the summer by buying Shaun Wright-Phillips as an additional wing player, Asier Del Horno was in the left-back position and Michael Essien and Lassana Diarrrr in the defense of defense.
Such additions have significantly enhanced a championship squad and strengthened Chelsea's position as an inseparable force. They also made Arsenal coach at that time Arsene Wenger annoyed: “We are in a transfer market that you have to let Chelsea make decisions first before joining. That's because there is a price for Chelsea and a price for the rest.”
During this summer, Liverpool showed the same power on the transfer market. They showed their financial strength to bring Florian Wirtz right in front of Bayern Munich and Man City, the same story with Hugo Ekitike when Newcastle and other clubs were interested. And yet, the fact that Newcastle is “detaining” Alexander Isak also shows the underground power of Liverpool right now. But all of these things still do not guarantee anything for sure and if the idea, slot should call Mourinho!
