‘Rookie’ Ten Hag issues ‘warning’ to Arne Slot as ‘message is applied’ to Liverpool stars

Arne Slot has made a brilliant start as Liverpool manager but Chris Sutton says ‘rookie’ Erik ten Hag is a ‘cautionary tale’ for the Dutchman.

Slot replaced legendary Reds boss Jurgen Klopp in the summer, a difficult task for any expert, but he has won his first three games, beating Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United without conceding a goal.

Federico Chiesa was the only new arrival this summer, although Giorgi Mamardashvili was brought in and loaned out to Valencia, but the lack of change has gone some way to giving Liverpool a solid platform from which to excel in the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Sutton is impressed with how Slot has come through and taken on the big challenge with flying colours, but he has a word of caution before people get too carried away.

He said CasinoApps.com: “I like the way Arne Slot has handled the situation by joining the club and replacing such an important figure as Jurgen Klopp. Everyone was a little worried about Liverpool’s lack of activity in the transfer window before Chiesa arrived, but everything seems to be very well sorted at the club.

“They’ve had a very good start to the season under him. You could qualify that by saying they’ve beaten Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United. Nobody knows what Manchester United are going to do this season, but in those three games they’ve kept three clean sheets.

“Manchester United lacked control of the game, while Liverpool were so dominant and impressive. I don’t think anyone really knew how long it would take them to find their feet with Slot in charge, and naturally you think a new manager needs time. Watching the game at the weekend, from both performances, you would have thought Erik ten Hag was the Premier League rookie in his third game as manager, and Slot the more experienced in his third year. You know what Liverpool do and you understand their identity. You don’t really know what Manchester United is anymore.

“Slot has built a very good reputation. He always had a hard time putting himself in Klopp’s shoes. He did it and he did it his way. It’s only three games. That’s the message he wants to give to the Liverpool players: let’s not get carried away too quickly, let’s keep going. It’s a good start, but that’s it for now.”

MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365
👉 Ranking the £338.6m new signings according to our excitement for their debuts: Man Utd 2) and 6)
👉 Liverpool and Manchester City dominate the Premier League XI of the season so far

One beneficiary of Slot’s arrival has been Ryan Gravenberch, who has played every minute of the first three games as a No.6 after starting just 12 games under Klopp last season.

The midfielder has revealed why he believes he has improved in his second season at Anfield.

“There were sometimes matches where I only touched the ball once after five or six minutes,” he said. “So you’re not playing your game.

“Now I’m getting the ball more often, so I’m more comfortable. He just saw that. In the end, it worked out well.

“Now it’s going well, so yes, everyone congratulates him (Slot).”