Reds TOP rankings, players give Slot LOWDOWN, Van Dijk HONOURED: Liverpool FC news recap

Here’s our roundup of all the latest Liverpool news for Wednesday, August 21st. The Reds are looking impressive coming out of the weekend.

Liverpool looking good

After the opening weekend for Europe's top five leagues, Liverpool rank number one for the highest xG (expected goals) created.

Liverpool, who created an xG of 3.45, have an impressive second half display to thank for being at the summit of this ranking with Arne Slot requiring to be 'flexible and clinical'at half-time on Saturday with his side failing to impress in the opening half at Portman Road.

In fact, the difference between the two displays is made apparent using this statistic. Liverpool's second half performance is what sees them higher than any other team in Europe's top five divisions, with The Reds only creating an xG of 0.09 prior to the interval.

Nobody anticipated that 45 minutes into his first game, Arne Slot would have his team playing precisely how he wants them to, especially after nine years of Jurgen Klopp, whose style is very different. However, the second half performance against Ipswich is a good indication of things to come under Slot, with xG numbers like these predicted to become the norm.

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Liverpool's midfield on the new style

Following the game, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai shed light on the tactical adjustments made under the new coach. In an interview with Viaplay, transcribed on the club's official website, Mac Allister described how Slot’s approach demands more positional discipline from his players.

“I think this manager asks more to stay in the position, and that's maybe like a different structure,” said Mac Allister.

Nevertheless, despite the new structure, Mac Allister noted "the principles are the same".

"We know that defensively we have to run, we have to give our 100 per cent, the last two steps are so important and that can make the difference,” he explained.

“There is a couple of changes, not much, but I think Arne can help us to be a better team.”

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Van Dijk in PFA team

Virgil van Dijk has been named in the PFA team of the year for 2024 and is the only Liverpool player to make the cut.

The Dutchman is amongst an array of Manchester City and Arsenal stars and joins Ollie Watkins as the only two players to have made it into the team from teams outside of last season's top two.

PFA Team of the Year 2024: David Raya, Kyle Walker, Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, Rodri, Martin Odegaard, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland.

Van Dijk again was a talismanic figure at the heart of Liverpool's defence in Jurgen Klopp's final year at the helm. The value of the Dutchman's leadership was shown in abundance when his glancing header in the dying embers of the Carabao Cup sent the travelling Kop into scenes of jubilation at Wembley as an injury-stricken Liverpool side sunk Chelsea.

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Slot's Liverpool record impressive feat

Arne Slot's Liverpool had 50 touches in the opposition box against Ipswich on Saturday in the Dutchman's first competitive game as Liverpool boss.

This number hasn't been recorded by any manager on their first Premier League outing since the 2008/09 season and is a massive sign of intent of the dominant style of football Slot is trying to instil into his players.

Diogo Jota and Mohammed Salah netted in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Premier League newcomers Ipswich last weekend giving their new manager a perfect start to life in the Premier League.

Arne Slot watched his side struggle to cause any problems to Kieran McKenna's team in the first half on Saturday noon but the Dutchman's ability to be 'flexible' and 'clinical' in his substitutions and tactical tweaks saw his side produce a performance that portrayed a sign of things to come in the Slot era.

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