Arne Slot vs. Jurgen Klopp: Comparing Liverpool’s First 50 Premier League Games Under Each Manager
Arne Slot’s 50th Premier League match in charge of Liverpool ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Despite hopes for a memorable milestone, the 2025/26 season has started poorly for the defending champions, who now sit in the bottom half of the table. But how does Slot’s first 50 league matches compare to some of Liverpool’s most iconic managers?
Having spent over £400 million on players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Milos Kerkez, expectations were high for Slot to deliver back-to-back Premier League success. However, these signings have yet to fully make an impact. Notably, Slot became the first manager since Sven-Göran Eriksson in 2007 to win his first three Premier League matches without conceding a goal.
Much of the criticism has fallen on Slot, as Liverpool’s performances have lacked consistency. At 47, the Dutch manager has openly admitted to mistakes throughout the season, yet his first 50 matches show mixed results.
Comparing Slot to Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2015, transformed Liverpool both on and off the pitch. In his first 50 Premier League matches, Klopp won 26, drew 14, and lost 10, scoring 103 goals while conceding 63 and keeping 14 clean sheets. Slot, by contrast, has recorded 31 wins, 9 draws, and 10 losses, scoring 104 goals, conceding 61, and keeping 16 clean sheets—slightly outperforming Klopp statistically despite the team’s struggles this season.
Slot vs. Other Premier League Greats
When compared to Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Sir Alex Ferguson, Slot’s early record remains impressive but less dominant than Guardiola’s Manchester City start, where he accumulated 112 points from 34 wins, scoring 119 goals and conceding just 46. Ferguson’s first 50 matches at Manchester United resulted in 30 wins, 13 draws, and 7 losses, earning 103 points. Arteta’s Arsenal, by contrast, struggled early with 21 wins, 12 draws, and 17 losses, scoring 72 goals and conceding 56 points.
| Manager | Wins | Draw | Loss | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arne Slot | 31 | 9 | 10 | 104 | 61 | 16 | 102 |
| Mikel Arteta | 21 | 12 | 17 | 72 | 56 | 15 | 75 |
| Pep Guardiola | 34 | 10 | 6 | 119 | 46 | 19 | 112 |
| Alex Ferguson | 30 | 13 | 7 | 82 | 35 | 23 | 103 |
| Jurgen Klopp | 26 | 14 | 10 | 103 | 63 | 14 | 92 |
Despite the current slump, Slot’s start at Liverpool shows strong numbers when compared to other top managers, although he still faces challenges to match the legacy of Klopp, Guardiola, or Ferguson.
