Jurgen Klopp’s reign, though perhaps, not finishing on the high he may have hoped, was no doubt an era of success. He will be fondly remembered by all involved at Liverpool. Both for his achievements as a coach and connection with the fanbase as well as his memorable media interactions.
From a Premier League title to Champions League winners and several cup successes, he will be a tough act to follow.
Moreover, this was a period dominated by Man City, so to achieve what he did against such strong opposition should not be underestimated. Anyone who follows in Klopp’s footsteps therefore has much to live up to. The Liverpool job is never easy but to come in after such a well-loved and successful manager will be a big test. Now in the last few days, the search for a manager has ended. Arne Slot has agreed in principle to become the next Liverpool manager. Is this the start of a new promising project or could there be a few difficult years for Liverpool?
Who is Arne Slot?
Arne Slot is greatly admired for his record of improving young players, success on a somewhat modest budget, European experience and a style of play that is not too dissimilar from Jürgen Klopp’s. The Feyenoord coach has earned a reputation for high intensity on the pitch and has led his team to success multiple times.
Since joining Feyenoord from AZ Alkmaar, Slot has won the Eredivisie in 2022-23 and the KNVB Cup this season. He also led the Rotterdam club to the Europa Conference League final in 2022, where they lost to José Mourinho’s Roma. The team have also qualified for a Europa League place next season with Ajax unable to catch them.
Keeping Up with Arsenal and Liverpool
In recent years there has been no room for error in the Premier League and Slot will need to hit the ground running at the start of next season if he is to lead Liverpool into another title race next season. There is a chance Liverpool drop off a little next season which the board and fanbase may have to accept. Arsenal had a drop-off at the start of Arteta’s reign before building up to become title challengers.
However, Liverpool was in the title race before hitting a downturn in the last couple of weeks, so Klopp still has the club in a good place. Slot then takes over on a solid base without having the pressure of following a title-winning season. A probable third-place finish and a Carabao Cup show the current squad is still at a strong level. This is not a squad in turmoil it just has a few wrinkles that need straightening out.
Contract Decisions
While the details of contracts are down to chief executive Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes, dealing with the futures of three key people in the Liverpool squad will be a top priority for Slot. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all been crucial figures for the club under Klopp. But all three are out of contract next summer.
It is very possible they could leave but that is probably not a wise choice in his first season. In the case of Salah and Van Dijk, a year-long contract extension would be a good idea. The manager will want to bring in his players if Liverpool wants to avoid a drop-off post-Klopp & it may be beneficial to keep them around. They have the experience and know what Liverpool is about and could help integrate new signings with a solid foundation. Given the age of both players it doesn’t seem likely they would get more than a year
Trent is a more obvious decision. The right back at the age of 25 still has many years left and could lead this next generation of Liverpool. He should get a big new contract unless Slot plans to go in a completely different direction which seems unlikely given their similar management style.
New Signings
The club’s first point of call is the striking situation. Darwin Nunez has been made a bit of a scapegoat this season, but the numbers do show that improvement is needed. The striker has the worst big-chance conversion rate of forwards with 10 or more clear-cut chances this season.
Should Slot work with the striker to improve his chance of conversion or seek a different option? This is a difficult decision as the striker also contributes off the ball and doesn’t seem lacking in effort. Getting a top striking replacement in this current climate with sanctions for overspending could also present a challenge.
Liverpool’s current midfield sees Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister sharing the duties of the holding role. But Slot likes to use a double pivot in that area of the park. There are also questions over whether Endo is a long-term solution for Liverpool so an additional defensive midfielder seems like an obvious transfer target this summer.
The Slot is Not Klopp
Slot is not just going to copy Klopp and nor should he be expected to. The connection between the German and the fans was always a unique and special one. But in this time of transition, Slot will need to convince the supporters that he is taking the club down the right path. Equally, the fanbase must understand this is a new manager. He is different from Klopp despite having a similar management style.
There are undoubtedly going to be bumps in the road. Slot and his players will need the Liverpool fans to support and be behind them. These big changes can be difficult and how the fans react can make or break it for most managers. A new era begins for Liverpool next season.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
