2. Several players haven taken giant leaps in development under Slot
The squad Arne Slot inherited when he was first announced as Liverpool's manager remained largely unchanged throughout the summer. Federico Chiesa was the only new senior addition to the squad this summer, so it was up to Slot to work with the team that Jurgen Klopp ended his Liverpool tenure with.
Perhaps the biggest improver under Slot from last season's squad is Luis Diaz, who, on form, is looking like one of the best wingers in the entire Premier League. The Colombian forward's six-goal contributions in five Premier League games have been a big reason why Slot has been so successful early on with Liverpool.
So what's the shift for Diaz? From an eye-test standpoint, it feels as though Luis Diaz is making a lot more central runs into the final third of the pitch and in turn he is in the penalty area a lot more than he usually is. No longer a wide forward, Diaz has become more of inside forward
Ryan Gravenberch is another player who has transformed to another level. For the better part of last season, the Dutch midfielder was an outcast among Jurgen Klopp's favourite candidates in the Liverpool midfield. Not only has Gravenberch stepped up his play, but he has done it as a defensive midfielder, which is, of course, not his natural position.
His ability to "get stuck in" and be a duel winner in the centre of the park has been immense, combined with some exceptional passing so far this season. We will have to see if Gravenberch can keep these performances up the rest of the season, but so far, he's been like a new signing in the midfield.
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