Liverpool manager Arne Slot may look to his own past for a blueprint to revive his side's fortunes after a difficult run, according to his former assistant Marino Pusic. Pusic, now managing Al Jazira Club, recalled how Feyenoord suffered a 7-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Copenhagen in 2022 after losing the Conference League final, only to go on and win the Eredivisie that season.
Pusic, who was Slot's assistant at Feyenoord and AZ, said the heavy defeat was worrying but the coaching staff stayed calm. "Arne is brilliant at that: he keeps a clear head, analyses things deeply and turns conclusions into action," Pusic said. "No one gave us any chance of winning the league that season. And yet the pieces slowly started to fall into place."
Slot now faces similar challenges at Liverpool, who have lost seven of their last ten matches following a defeat by Manchester City. The integration of several summer signings has disrupted the group dynamic, Pusic noted. "Bringing in five or six new players can throw the balance off temporarily. The group only starts functioning properly again once they can find a new rhythm," he said.
The evolution of Liverpool's squad was overshadowed by the death of Diogo Jota, whose impact Pusic says was immense. He drew on his own experience at Shakhtar Donetsk, where a goalkeeper's brother died in the war. "It has a huge impact on everyone at the club, especially the squad. During the season, these things may fade, but they linger," Pusic added.
As champions, Liverpool must also adapt to being the team chased rather than the chaser. Pusic believes Slot's honest and analytical approach will be key. "He is genuine, tells it exactly how it is," Pusic said. Slot has already been frank about Liverpool's vulnerabilities, including to long balls, and has been working on new strategies.
