Arne Slot's Eredivisie experience will be crucial in title race

Liverpool have a top-flight winning manager while their Premier League title rivals do not. Feyenoord's 2022/23 season is worth a closer look.

“You won a league with Feyenoord. What is the key to seeing it through?”

“Consistency.”

ARNE SLOT, SPEAKING AFTER LIVERPOOL WON 5-0 AT WEST HAM

Whenever there is a discussion about Liverpool’s title prospects, a key factor in their favour is that they have a core of key players who have been Premier League champions in the past. Mohamed Salah and three-quarters of the back four are among the club’s five most used players in the league this season, with the defensive trio also having been the top three for minutes played in 2019/20.

Were it not for injury, Alisson Becker would start every league game too. There are also players in the squad who were part of a team that took the title fight to the final day, amassing 92 points, in 2021/22. It seems certain a repeat tally would take the title this season.

Even the players that only joined last season were part of a squad that was top of the division in the first week of April. Perhaps Liverpool’s key advantage, though, is that they have a league winning manager in the form of Arne Slot, who lifted the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord in 2022/23.

Mikel Arteta might have been a coach for two of Manchester City’s Premier League crowns, but his own managerial CV extends to one (behind closed doors) FA Cup triumph. Somewhat similarly, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca’s success extends as far as winning the Championship and England’s under-23 (reserve team) league. He remains free of major trophies, with the Blues’ results in the last week likely removing them from the race in any case.

As we know that the Reds squad is dripping in relevant experience, it feels worth taking a closer look at Slot’s career highlight to date. There are some interesting parallels, even if coincidence may be the only valid explanation for them.