by 
Arne Slot has done something at Liverpool that Jurgen Klopp has only managed once in eight full seasons in charge: win the first three Premier League games without conceding a goal.
The former Feyenoord boss had big boots to fill when he replaced Klopp, who won the Champions League and Premier League with the Reds.
Fans were unsure how the team would fare under a new manager, but the early signs are good.
“The most impressive thing is the arrival of Slot – low-key and cool – and they’ve changed the way they play the game a little bit because it’s not as frenetic,” says BBC pundit Chris Sutton.
“It was nice to watch them play under Jurgen Klopp but there seems to be better control.”
Liverpool also appear to have strengthened their leaky defence.
BBC Sport looks at what’s different and what’s stayed the same.
Has the staff changed?
Liverpool’s only summer signing to join the squad immediately was Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, who is yet to make his debut.
That means the team Slot put together was the one Klopp had available – albeit with a few fringe players gone, plus centre-back Joel Matip.
Fans have lamented the failure to sign a defensive midfielder – particularly Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi – but Slot’s fellow Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch has excelled in the role so far despite starting just 12 games last season.
“All the talk at the club during the summer transfer window was about bringing in a defensive midfielder but in the first few games all the players that have been put in there have been very smart,” the former Blackburn and Celtic Sutton striker told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They have shown that the number six position will not be too much of a problem because they have talent that adapts.”
Diogo Jota has also been preferred to Darwin Nunez in attack this season. Last season, Nunez started more often than the Portuguese.
Formation-wise, Slot adopts a 4-2-3-1 compared to Klopp’s 4-3-3.
The main difference is the presence of two additional defensive midfielders – Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister – and Dominik Szoboszlai playing further forward than before.
The only real change Slot made between games was replacing Jarrell Quansah with Ibrahima Konate at half-time in the opening game against Ipswich and retaining his place after that.
What do the numbers say?
Liverpool have won their first three league games by an aggregate score of 7-0, including a 3-0 victory at Manchester United.
The only time Klopp managed three opening wins and three clean sheets was in 2018-19, also by a combined score of 7-0. That season, they started with six wins and 20 games unbeaten – and finished second with 97 points.
This season, Liverpool have shown more patience under Slot, with more passing in defence.
Liverpool have touched the ball more in their own penalty area (11% compared to 6% last season), and have also touched the ball more just outside the box.
The number of touches in the opponent’s penalty area is also slightly higher.
Although with a limited dataset of three games, Klopp’s side last season – averaged over 38 games – have better numbers than Slot’s team on several metrics.
Klopp’s team had the advantage per game in possession (61% to Slot’s 57%), shots (21 to 16), passes (593 to 545), forward passes (189 to 168), direct attacks (2.6 to 1) and high turnovers (10 to 9).
Slot’s team has slightly better passing accuracy (88% vs. 86%) and faces fewer shots (8 vs. 11).
The shots conceded and the fact that they have not conceded any also indicate that they are struggling with some of the issues that saw them concede 41 league goals last season.
The goals scored are the same for both managers: 2.3 per game.
What do observers say?
“The main difference seems to be their defensive solidity,” said BBC Radio Merseyside’s Ian Kennedy.
“Klopp’s teams had no problem scoring goals and winning games, but also had a tendency to concede goals.
“This season, the team is ensuring that they have enough players to rely on if they lose possession of the ball and are not caught in transition.
“Liverpool continue to press but it’s perhaps a slightly more controlled and cautious approach.”
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport’s football editor, said: “The signs are good”.
“Slot does things his own way without trying to be Klopp. He also has an air of authority,” he said.
“Even though the situation continues as usual, there are also subtle differences.
“Liverpool seem a bit more controlled under Slot as opposed to the thrilling, but sometimes chaotic, approach under Klopp – that has brought great success.”
And the player’s point of view…
Liverpool’s star striker under Klopp, Mohamed Salah, has started this season in fine form with a goal in every game.
Ahead of the win over United, he told Liverpool’s website: “It’s quite different to before. Now we’re trying to control the ball all the time.”
“Before, it wasn’t really the priority, because with Jürgen, most of the time we were trying to counter-attack or counter-press and try to win the ball back as high as possible.
“We continue to do that, but also when you have the ball you have more time to keep the ball and just try to move it.”
