A reserved individual stood with his hands in his pockets. Occasionally, he gave directions, but in a subdued manner. There were no lively gestures, no celebratory movements, no rushing up and down the sidelines. The fourth official was not berated, which likely aligns with his preferences. The Arne Slot era started at Anfield, and if he’s currently defined by what he’s not, it’s partly because Jurgen Klopp was such a significant presence both literally and figuratively. However, the early signs indicate that there is life after Klopp.
The result might indicate a modest beginning for a more subdued manager. The most impressive scoreline of the day was at Molineux, not Anfield. Nevertheless, Slot has surpassed Klopp in one aspect, becoming the first Liverpool manager since Graeme Souness to win his first two league matches. He might not aim to mirror Souness going forward, but a lineup consisting of 10 Klopp signings plus Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was introduced by the German, defeated Brentford.
Mohamed Salah, often Liverpool’s leading scorer during the Klopp era, is maintaining a goal-per-game rate at the start of his successor’s term. Luis Diaz’s opening goal, meanwhile, had the kind of spectacular quality that Klopp’s tenure was known for. As Liverpool were managed by someone other than Klopp at Anfield for the first time since 2015, there was a change in the dugout but relatively little alteration on the pitch. Given Liverpool’s strong home performance during that period, this suited them. Slot appeared to observe the match, while Klopp was sometimes more actively involved. Owner John W Henry was present to witness the beginning of a new chapter at Anfield. It is too early to judge whether Liverpool made the right choice, but Slot heads to Old Trafford next week with a perfect record, including two clean sheets and effective forward play.
Fast transitions were a hallmark of Klopp’s style, but Slot’s debut Anfield goal came from an impressive counter-attack. Many of Klopp’s goals featured his renowned front three. Two of those players are now gone, but Slot’s attacking trio worked well: following a Brentford corner, Salah initiated a counter-attack. Even as he was fouled near his own box, Diogo Jota took over, driving forward to set up Diaz, who scored with a powerful shot. The focus was not on the technical area now: within moments, Slot had his hands back in his pockets.
The second goal also involved one forward assisting and another scoring: after a play involving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai, Salah evaded the offside trap to shoot past Mark Flekken. Although Brentford had some attacking moments in the first half, Liverpool were close to a more decisive victory. They hit the woodwork twice: Alexander-Arnold’s shot from a corner grazed the post, and Cody Gakpo’s powerful shot was deflected onto the bar by Nathan Collins.
Flekken had a busy day. Andy Robertson’s shot was tipped wide, and an inventive overhead kick by Jota and a header were both saved by the Dutch goalkeeper. Flekken also prevented Ibrahima Konate from scoring, with Konate’s aerial prowess being useful at both ends. The best of Flekken’s saves came when he stopped Diaz from scoring again.
Liverpool’s 19 shots and eight on target reflected Slot’s offensive approach. It seems he has settled on his most effective front three, with Jota thriving as his preferred No 9. He missed a chance from Alexander-Arnold’s low cross, which was deflected over. Nevertheless, Jota’s movement troubled Brentford, and Darwin Nunez appears to be a valuable backup. He came on as Slot’s Liverpool maintained calm possession towards the end: a style not always suited to Nunez or Klopp, but indicative of a potentially quieter era at Anfield.
Brentford also had a noticeable gap. They left out Ivan Toney again, possibly preparing for his permanent absence. Without him, Allison’s best save was from centre-back Collins; otherwise, the goalkeeper wasn’t heavily tested.
Brentford might have already reinvested the funds from Toney’s potential sale, some of which benefited Liverpool. Fabio Carvalho made a brief appearance upon his return to Anfield, while Sepp van den Berg stayed on the bench. But one departure from Liverpool overshadowed the rest. Klopp is no longer at the helm, but as the final whistle neared, there was a first, tentative chant of Slot’s name. After the final whistle, instead of Klopp’s customary fist pumps, there was a wave to the Kop.
