Arne Slot being proven right about Liverpool - but things are about to change

Arne Slot is reaching the end of his beginning as Liverpool head coach and the next raft of games will highlight what he can achieve this season

Arne Slot being proven right about Liverpool - but things are about to change

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Crystal Palace played a curiously regular role throughout the timeline of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool tenure. And, as the Reds prepare for their latest trip to Selhurst Park, the Londoners will offer a similar landmark for Arne Slot.

Palace were the opposition way back in November 2015 when an Anfield defeat prompted Klopp to realise the size of the task he had taken on in both convincing supporters and creating a winning team. In June 2020, the Eagles were thumped 4-0 in the first week of pandemic football to pave the way for Liverpool's first championship in 30 years to be confirmed 24 hours later.

A little later that year, a 7-0 win in the capital represented the Reds' biggest-ever away league triumph, while last season a dramatic 2-1 victory on the road saw Mohamed Salah score his 200th goal for the club. And, of course, in the team's last meeting back in April, Palace dealt a hammer blow to Liverpool's title aspirations with a shock 1-0 win.

For Slot, though, thoughts of a championship challenge are far from the mind as he continues to get his feet under the table at his new club. And despite a record-breaking eight wins from his first nine games in charge, the Reds head coach has been insistent on suggesting his team haven't truly yet been properly tested by the Premier League's big hitters.

Manchester United aside, he's correct. This weekend, then, represents the end of the beginning for the Dutchman having been handed an early fixture schedule that, while not without its tests, did not possess too many sizeable threats. Almost every game would have been deemed winnable, with Liverpool duly obliging in all bar the shock home loss to Nottingham Forest three weeks ago.

It's why each victory has been swiftly put into context by Slot, who is keeping at least one eye on the bigger picture and refusing to overly raise expectations. And a sense of the unknown that has understandably been a recurring theme ever since he took over from Klopp at the start of the summer. Just how good is this Liverpool team?

There was more of that on Wednesday evening with the revamped Champions League making it thus far impossible to ascertain the value of the 2-0 win over Bologna besides it inflicting just a fourth defeat in almost 10 months on the Serie A side. Not until towards Christmas will Liverpool know what's required to first avoid missing out on elimination and then preferably earn a top-eight place to go straight through to the last 16.

With just the one new face brought in during the summer - and Federico Chiesa has barely been seen as of yet - Reds supporters are at least aware of the capabilities and potential of the individual personnel.

But how well suited Slot's inherited squad is for the more composed, controlled style of play he is seeking will only become evident during the next raft of games following the forthcoming international break.

In the space of 21 days, Liverpool will entertain Chelsea, Brighton and Aston Villa in the Premier League as well as visiting title contenders Arsenal. They are also at Brighton in the League Cup fourth round, and play Champions League games at RB Leipzig and home to Bayer Leverkusen.

That run would be a tough examination for any leading team, let alone one still adapting to a new playing style that, as Virgil van Dijk has admitted, is not proving without its teething troubles.

Liverpool are actually one point worse off from their respective league games last season, while their record at Palace under Klopp was hugely impressive, winning eight and drawing one of nine visits. A victory will be expected on Saturday against a team still seeking their first Premier League triumph of the campaign.

Only after that, though, will we Slot gain a greater understanding of what is possible for this Reds vintage. An encouraging start to the season is about to get interesting.

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