Arne Slot MUST change WORRYING problem he's always had vs Erik Ten Hag

Liverpool are set to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford later today in what will be Arne Slot’s toughest challenge yet as Liverpool boss.

Despite Liverpool currently holding a perfect record in the Premier League, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United will likely prove a difficult opponent for Slot in only his second away game as boss.

Unlike in his previous two fixtures, Slot has come up against both Manchester United and Erik ten Hag before and he understands just how difficult it can be to win at Old Trafford.

Slot is set to be without his summer signing Chiesa for the clash against the Red Devils but will be hoping that his side can translate a dominant performance from last time out against Brentford into three points against Manchester United.

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Slot’s record vs Manchester United

Although Slot has technically already beaten Manchester United as Liverpool manager when the two teams faced off in the USA during the pre-season, this will be his first competitive game against them as Liverpool boss.

It isn’t however his first competitive game against them as a manager. In 2019 Slot’s AZ Alkmaar took on Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United team in the group stage of the Europa League.

The first match saw Manchester United visit the Netherlands and the result was a 0-0 draw. Despite not being able to capitalise, Slot’s team had more possession and took double the number of shots that Solskjær’s United team did.

The reverse fixture was a different story however. In his only previous visit to Old Trafford Slot was beaten 4-0 following a second half capitulation. AZ Alkmaar had been able to keep United at bay in the first half but shipped four second half goals, resulting in a scoreline that Slot will surely want to avenge this afternoon.

Slot’s record against Erik ten Hag

Although Slot is yet to beat Manchester United in a competitive match, he has a 50% win rate against his compatriot who now manages the Red Devils.

Whilst at AZ Alkmaar, Slot beat Ten Hag’s Ajax both home and away, winning the games 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.

However, at Feyenoord Slot did not fare as well against his countryman, losing both games he played against Ajax.

The first meeting between the two sides was a close match that saw Slot’s side fall due to an own goal just before half time and an 81^st minute penalty scored by Dušan Tadić.

The second match once again saw Slot’s team lose it late in the second half when 78^th and 86^th minute goals saw Ajax emerge victorious despite Feyenoord leading 2-1 at half time.

This trend of conceding late winners to Erik ten Hag will be one that Slot is hoping doesn’t follow him over to England. Ten Hag’s Manchester United side have themselves fallen foul to a number of very late winners and the Liverpool faithful will be hoping that any late winner in today’s match will result in the three points heading back to Anfield.

Another interesting trend from Slots previous games against the current Manchester United boss is that his team has never had more possession than a Ten Hag team when they have faced off.

Ten Hag has won the possession battle in all four of their previous meetings, despite Slot being able to achieve 49% possession the first time they met.

In two of the other three matches Slot’s team saw 38% or less of the ball, and this is something that he will definitely not want to see from his Liverpool side.

How will these records compare to today’s match up?

It is hard to tell how easily these stats can be translated to the Premier League. Ajax won the Eredivisie in both season when Slot and Ten Hag faced off and were the strongest team in the country on both occasions.

The same cannot be said for Ten Hag’s Manchester United side who are coming off the back of their worst Premier League finish ever and a season that they finished with a negative goal difference.

Liverpool appear to be the stronger of the two sides going into this match, on paper at least, and that isn’t an advantage Slot has had before.

Slot will be desperate to carry on his perfect start to life in Merseyside by recording his first competitive win against Manchester United and beating Ten Hag for the first time since March 2020 when Liverpool take on the Red Devils later this afternoon.