NO FUSS: Arne Slot has won both his Premier League games since becoming Liverpool manager. AFP/VNA Photo
Paul Kennedy
I’ve always thought the two best places to live were on the edge or in the fast lane.
It has been proven that excitement can enhance memory and attention, leading to more effective learning. It can make us more motivated to act on something we want or seek out greater risk.
Unpredictability and the fast-paced nature of chaotic situations can provide a sense of stimulation and novelty that some people find appealing.
Who doesn’t love a good thrill once in a while?
For Liverpool fans, myself included, all of the above is the perfect way to describe what it has been like watching the Reds during the Jurgen Klopp managerial era.
Under Klopp, Liverpool scored a late winner in 16 games.
It started in January 2016 when we beat Norwich 5-4 thanks to an Adam Lallana goal in the 95th minute.
Last season, Liverpool won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea thanks to a Virgil van Dijk header in the 118th minute.
I could go on and on. Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarter final (Lovren, 91st). PSG in the Champions League (Firmino, 91st) and Tottenham last season in the Premier League (Jota, 94th).
Watching Liverpool under Klopp really was edge of your seat stuff. A wild roller coaster ride of emotions that never ended until the fat lady sang, or rather until a Liverpool player scored the winner.
And then, in the blink of an eye, Klopp was gone. And all our lives changed.
Last Sunday, in what was not only Liverpool’s first home game of the season but also new manager Arne Slot’s first competitive match at Anfield, the Liverpool supporters seemed strangely subdued.
It was the calm after the storm.
On the pitch Liverpool went about their business without any fuss, winning by two goals to nil, the same score line they beat Ipswich by the previous week.
There was no drama, no anxiety and certainly no chaos.
After the victory, Slot waved to the crowd and gave a thumbs up. No fist pumps to all corners of the stadium and no Goliath-sized bear hugs for his team, gestures that were common practice for his predecessor.
There’s a new dawn breaking at Liverpool, and us supporters need to think about dropping down a gear or two. It won’t be as wild and it won’t be as crazy.
Former Liverpool player turned pundit Jamie Carragher said after the match that Liverpool could have done with a few simple, no fuss victories in previous seasons.
If they keep on winning, then it won’t be a problem. And Liverpool supporters will maybe have to think about relocating and starting to live outside of the fast lane. VNS
OVietnam