Liverpool sit top of the Premier League table after a brilliant 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday night, as Arne Slot continues to shine – less than two years after he was linked with Leeds United.
Rewind to February 2022, and Leeds had decided to sack Marcelo Bielsa after more than three years in charge. In one of the club’s worst decisions in their modern history, Jesse Marsch was hired by Leeds.
The American lasted only a year, winning just eight of his 32 Premier League matches in charge. During his stint at Elland Road, Marsch clocked up just 34 points as manager – far less than Bielsa had managed.
His signings flopped, his press conference speeches were bizarre and his tactical nous was limited. His incessant desire to play central attacking football nullified the quality Leeds had out wide in the squad.
Arne Slot was linked with Leeds United job after Marsch sacking
Marsch lost his job in February 2023 after a 1-0 loss to Forest. It was the start of the end of Leeds’ three-year stint back in the top flight, with Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce managing afterwards.
It was former Watford man Gracia that replaced Marsch following Skubala’s three-game interim stint as manager. But Leeds made an approach to hire Arne Slot from Feyenoord, as he neared a league triumph.
But he stayed at Feyenoord until the summer of 2024, where he moved to Liverpool to fill Jurgen Klopp’s shoes. The pressure was enormous right from the off for Slot, but that has not stopped him impressing.
Arne Slot already has more points than Marsch in Premier League
It took Marsch 32 Premier League matches to get to a total of 34 points. But on Sunday, Slot watched his Liverpool side take apart a struggling Manchester City to go and clock up 34 points already this season.
Slot has guided Liverpool to that total after just 13 Premier League matches – winning 11, drawing once and only losing on one more occasion. The Dutchman is guiding Liverpool towards the League title.
What an incredible achievement that would be. But it could have been very different had Slot opted to leave Feyenoord for Leeds, but instead and in hindsight, he’s made the right decision to join Liverpool.
While Slot would have been expected to get more points and on a quicker basis than Marsch did at Leeds, to get the same amount in 19 less games is remarkable from Slot, but damning for Marsch.
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