In one respect, Arne Slot is about to emulate Jurgen Klopp before his reign is even a year old, when his predecessor’s lasted eight-and-a-half. In another, he has proof that he has a long way to go. At some point, probably in April, Slot will have won the Premier League, drawing level with Klopp’s final total of one. Yet the German’s record was most remarkable in Europe. Each passing year may render the feat of taking Liverpool to three Champions League finals more extraordinary.
Slot’s experience of being Europe’s best was different. Liverpool won the Champions League’s inaugural 36-team group. Outstanding in autumn, eliminated before spring, they will not even play in the quarter-finals. Slot always wondered what topping the group would mean. Now he knows: an exit to the team who finished 15th; but who, vastly superior in Paris, arguably slightly better at Anfield, certainly belied that status. But for Alisson Becker, PSG could have won this tie by several goals.
