'He's excellent': Wolves boss is not surprised Liverpool man has been so brilliant this season

Today at 03:45 AM

The mood is very different in the respective camps of Liverpool and Wolves ahead of Saturday’s late Premier League kick off.

In the away dugout, Gary O’Neil’s already testing start to season went from bad to worse as Yerson Mosquera suffered a season ending ACL injury before Midland rivals Aston Villa turned around a one-goal deficit to triumph last time out.

Liverpool, in contrast, are on a run of six wins from seven games under Arne Slot.

To think, there were some who felt the former Feyenoord boss was on a hiding to nothing stepping into the sizeable shoes of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

But any fears that Slot would become to Liverpool what David Moyes was to Manchester United or what Unai Emery was to Arsenal have been dispelled during a quite remarkable start, that shock Nottingham Forest reverse aside.

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil hails Arne Slot impact at Liverpool

Liverpool have scored 18 goals and conceded only three under Slot.

And while the Dutchman’s immediate impact may have taken more casual observers by surprise – transforming Klopp’s so-called ‘heavy metal football’ into something a more of a melodic sonata – O’Neil is less surprised.

This is, after all, a man who established himself as one of the most forward-thinking tacticians on the continent while guiding Feyenoord to only their second Eredivisie title in the 21st century, with Saturday’s opponent a keen admirer.

“He is excellent, coaching-wise and the way he sets his team up,” O’Neil says at his pre-match press conference, his Wolves side hoping to claim some sort of reward from this Slot machine.

“It’s not a surprise to me that he has started well. Liverpool is very well run and very well organised, there’s no real mess there to go in and fix. He has gone into a well run football club with a good squad and he’s a good coach.”

Perhaps one factor O’Neil highlights – Slot inheriting a well-run club and an impressive squad – goes some way to explaining why the 46-year-old has settled into his role far easier than Moyes and Emery did.

Man United and Arsenal, after all, were two clubs lacking in leadership and guidance even towards the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger eras.

Slot also has the advantage of a quite thrilling frontline. Paul Scholes believes Liverpool may be a bigger threat than Arsenal this season due to the quality and the depth of their attacking options.

A case in point; Slot could afford to bring Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and a summer arrival – Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher liked what he saw from Federico Chiesa – during the midweek Carabao Cup clash with West Ham United.

Liverpool still won 5-1.

Mo Salah and Luis Diaz – five in five league games for the Colombian – are likely to return to the XI against Wolves.

Keeping either player off the scoresheet is likely to be a pretty substantial challenge for the visitors. Especially with Toti Gomes a doubt and fellow centre-half Mosquera ruled out for the foreseeable future.

Wolves dealing with a virus as well as Yerson Mosquera injury

“He’s a great kid and I’m absolutely devastated for him because of the energy [he brings],” O’Neil says of Mosquera. “No matter how things go each week, he gives absolutely everything and he always attacks things and does things in the right way.

“It’s a big loss to us. It’s a big blow to the team but it brings an opportunity to others.”

HITC reports that Wolves could look to bring in one of two free-agents, former Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins or ex-Newcastle United stalwart Paul Dummett.

There could even be a Premier League debut for 20-year-old Alfie Pond with a virus in camp adding to O’Neil’s concerns.

“There is quite a bit of illness so there will have to be a check on some with how they are feeling,” adds the former AFC Bournemouth coach. “There’s a virus going around. The doctor has been busy this week trying to help the lads feel a little bit better. Quite a few missed training today.

“We’ll see how we are [on Saturday]. We’ll test [Toti] again in the morning. He’s trained but he’s not fully fit. There is another day to go and he is getting closer.

“In an ideal world we’ll probably leave him longer, but we’ll see.”

TBR understands that Liverpool could look to add Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes to their already fearsome attack. The Reds are keen on Velez Sarsfield starlet Thiago Fernandez too.