“‘Study Pep’s approach’ – Arne Slot urged to follow Guardiola model to spark Liverpool revival”
Arne Slot has been urged to take a page from Pep Guardiola’s playbook as he looks to spark a season-defining revival at Liverpool.
The Reds have endured a disastrous defence of their Premier League crown, suffering six defeats already and sitting 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, even after a small resurgence over the past three weeks. What Liverpool are experiencing echoes Manchester City’s struggles as defending champions in late 2024, when they endured a shocking 13-match slump, losing nine and winning just once.
Guardiola’s team eventually climbed back to finish third—their lowest top-flight finish in eight years—but only after extensive experimentation that helped him find a winning formula.
Ex-Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, who served under Sir Alex Ferguson for over a decade, has advised Slot to follow Guardiola’s example in turning Liverpool’s recent upturn into a sustained improvement.
Brown told Football Insider: “Liverpool are no different from any other team. Man City went through the same thing last season, and Pep Guardiola couldn’t immediately fix it. He was frustrated and just had to endure until the season ended.
“Over time, they slowly regained form and started winning again. Pep deserves credit for sticking at it, trying multiple approaches to identify the problem, because it wasn’t obvious.
“The parallels with Liverpool are clear. Slot should study how Pep handled that period and try to replicate it. Most expect an immediate turnaround, but it won’t happen overnight—and things could still get worse. The manager has the club’s support, and if he can act like Pep—patiently making adjustments—then that’s all he can do. There’s no quick fix, as the underlying problem isn’t clear-cut.”
While Brown’s comparison makes sense, it’s not as if Slot hasn’t experimented beyond his initial plans. He has tested several formations with mixed results, with the 4-4-2 diamond used against Inter Milan last week proving particularly effective. Slot has also been willing to field players in unfamiliar positions.
Not every experiment has worked—the attempt to play Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back and Jeremie Frimpong in attack against Galatasaray failed—but the coach has shown flexibility when his original plans didn’t yield results.
Recognising the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, Slot has adopted a more pragmatic approach in recent games, leading to two victories with clean sheets.
While it’s too early to say Liverpool have fully turned a corner—they had shown promise after wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid in November before losing to Guardiola’s Man City—recent performances suggest some improvement as the festive period approaches.
Wins against struggling sides Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves are crucial to maintain momentum heading into 2026, especially with a packed January schedule featuring nine matches.