Virgil van Dijk outlines two key focuses of new-look Liverpool under Arne Slot

Liverpool claimed another win under Arne Slot despite not being at their best in the 2-1 Premier League success over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux

The end result for Liverpool remains the same. Only the journey towards it is different.

If a compare and contrast exercise was carried out between new eras and old at Molineux, the evidence of change could be observed in the last half-hour.

Struck by Mo Salah's sucker-punch penalty, just seconds after clawing back Ibrahima Konate’s opener via Rayan Ait-Nouri, Gary O’Neil’s side were on the ropes. Is it too much to suggest that Jurgen Klopp's vintage may have smelt blood and gone in for the kill? Arne Slot ’s new-model Reds didn’t take that gamble.

It worked. It worked to an extent that O’Neil’s substitute Hwang Hee-Chan was thrown on up front and touched the ball once - yes once - in the first 21 minutes he was on the pitch.

Gone is the heavy metal, rock ’n’ roll, glorious chaos. Replaced instead with a more ordered, considered, pragmatic approach. If it means three points being churned out just as regularly, does anyone care?

Skipper Virgil van Dijk said: “The whole dynamic of the club hasn’t changed. But there is a new manager with different principles and values.

“Not that they differ much from Jurgen but he has his own way. I think the transition has been quite smooth. We are still learning.

“In possession, we are trying to find different ways to hurt opponents. Opponents always have a plan about us, whether they press with two strikers, three strikers, not at all. We have to sort it on the pitch with what he prepares us for. It’s an interesting challenge.

“It’s all about how we can hurt teams - and not get hurt as much.”

Klopp boasted charisma by the bucketload. Slot, perhaps not so much. But then they said the same about Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. And look whose trophy collection was greater.

Van Dijk added: “At times, the manager’s not been happy with certain moments in games, when we lose the ball too easily or we are not winning our battles, or we have conceded. Those things are normal. We all know that we have to accept that to be better. And we all want to get better. It’s normal that these things are happening - and I won’t accept otherwise.”

The Dutchman’s on-field wing-man, Andy Robertson, suggested that the brief may have changed, adding: “I just think we wanted to see it out. We tried to control it as much as we could.

“We knew we didn’t have to score another goal but it was more important to keep them out and I think the lads worked incredibly hard up top to secure that.

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“They were trying to make us defensively solid still and yes, you know a wee bit more control of the ball and try to tire them out a little. We knew there was going to be a change after seven years of playing in a similar way.

“It worked really well and we all enjoyed it. We knew a new manager would come in and change things and make it different.

“I’ve enjoyed the change. I’ve embraced it. I think I’ve done well at it. I’ve grown into it. The positioning all over the pitch, attacking and defending is different.

“So far, so good. The schedule is hectic. Let’s see how we are in a few months when it really ramps up.”

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