A collective sigh of relief passed across Merseyside as Liverpool got back to winning ways, with Arne Slot now facing the prospect of leaning into a much-loved Jurgen Klopp principle for the foreseeable.

Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

Premier League (10) | Anfield
November 1, 2025

Goals: Salah 45+1′, Gravenberch 58′

1. Slot stumbles upon Klopp formula

Returning from the international break and amassing yet more defeats meant this really was a call-to-action evening for Slot. Not exactly panic stations but, let’s be fair, not far off at all.

Liverpool Football Club simply cannot go on a sustained losing run at Anfield. That just isn’t in the script, ever.

And so this evening Slot made a few subtle yet correct choices. Deploying Andy Robertson back into the XI was widely called for and needed to happen. The presence of the old head added a greater measure of calm to Virgil van Dijk’s evening.

Likewise in the final third; allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to maraud in his favoured No. 10 berth helped free a bit of tension from Mo Salah’s shoulders. These two understand each other, and the familiarity brought about better forward runs as a result.

A few paces...