Slot’s wife and kids remained in the Netherlands while he moved to England to coach the Reds, and he has enjoyed a near-perfect start to life on Merseyside. Liverpool sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand over nearest challengers Chelsea heading into the jam-packed festive schedule.
They also hold a perfect record in Europe, winning all six of their Champions League group fixtures so far to sit top of the table. Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp and many expected a bedding-in season for the Dutchman.
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But he has hit the ground running in spectacular style to leave Liverpool hot favourites for a second Premier League title. The Reds are also in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they face Spurs over two legs.
As with most of the top European leagues, the Eredivisie in the Netherlands has a winter break. Slot spent the time last year in Dubai, but with Liverpool hosting Leicester on Boxing Day evening before a trip to West Ham on Sunday, there is no rest this time around.
“It is different,” Slot told Sky Sports. “Yesterday there was a padel tournament that my brother organised and I knew from last season I was there and then went to Dubai for 10 days the day after. Now I am here I am not going to go to Dubai as I am going to manage a few Premier League games.”
Slot admits it’s difficult to be away from his family, but insisted it was the best thing for his wife and children to remain in the Netherlands, at least in the short term. When asked if it was difficult not to be with them at Christmas, he added: “Yeah. If I said no it would probably be strange as well.
“There are obvious reasons why we (my wife and I) kept the children and my wife in Holland as they are in the last year of their school. They have to do their exams so for us it was not the ideal moment to bring them towards England. But in the ideal world you are the manager of Liverpool and still have your family around you.”
Despite Liverpool’s red-hot start to the season, Slot insists he is not getting carried away. “I have always said how difficult it was,” he said. “You can see it now.
“The best way to judge the league table is after 19 games. It is so hard to win a league everywhere around the world. It is so hard to win the league. You have to do so many things well. That is why so many teams and not many players are able to do so because it so difficult.”
