Liverpool appoint Arne Slott as new coach to replace Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool FC announced the appointment of Arne Slott as the team’s new coach on a three-year contract.

The Dutchman will officially assume his duties as successor to Jurgen Klopp on June 1 after his departure from Feyenoord.

A compensation package worth around €11m (£9.4m) was agreed between the clubs last month, with Slott set to bring assistant coach Sepke Hulshov and head of performance Robin Peters with him to Merseyside.

In an interview with the Feyenoord website, Slott said: “It is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have lived so many great moments and worked successfully with so many great people.”

“But as an athlete, it is difficult to ignore the opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Slott confirmed ahead of Feyenoord’s final match of the season against Excelsior that he would take charge of Liverpool, and Klopp then led a chant in his successor’s name after Sunday’s emotional farewell at Anfield as he urged fans to get behind the new manager.

The 45-year-old emerged as Liverpool’s preferred candidate following an extensive search by Fenway Sports Group chief football officer Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes after Klopp announced in January that he would step down at the end of the season.

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Everything you need to know about Arnie Slott

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Liverpool’s due diligence process included complex data analysis, personality research and performance assessment. Through his work at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, Slott has gained a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in Europe.

They believe he over-performed given the resources at his disposal after leading Feyenoord to their second league title this century and their first European final since 2002 – showing the ability to develop talent and get the best out of players to achieve goals that were previously out of reach. Hand.

His dynamic, high-energy, possession-based brand of attacking football and tactical approach are also in his favour, which Liverpool believe will perfectly suit the team he inherits at Anfield and energize the fanbase.

Liverpool consider Slot to have excellent communication skills, and his eagerness to take on the huge challenge of following in Klopp’s footsteps has impressed senior figures at the club.

We can announce that Arne Slott has agreed a deal to become the club’s new head coach, and will officially take up his position on 1 June 2024, subject to a work permit 🙌

– Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 20, 2024

Xabi Alonso — Before announcing that he would remain at Bayer Leverkusen for next season – Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim was among the other candidates Liverpool considered to replace Klopp before settling on Slott.

Slot won the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord last season, and held talks with Tottenham Hotspur about the vacant coach position last summer, before choosing to stay.

His Feyenoord team finished the 2023-2024 Dutch season in second place in the Dutch League, seven points behind champions PSV Eindhoven.

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What is the style of play in Slot?

Analysis by Mark Curry and Charlie Ecclesher

sNot many people know how to play offensively, no matter who the opponent is.

The Dutchman usually plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation in possession, using a double midfield pivot to advance centrally through the first pressing line, with a number 10, two wingers and a central striker.

It is no surprise that Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi are among the managers he has greatly inspired, but Slot is also known to admire Marcelo Bielsa, Jorge Sampaoli, Klopp, Luciano Spalletti and Mikel Arteta.

He also shared ideas with former Liverpool assistant coach and fellow Dutchman Pep Lijnders, who is leaving the position of Red Bull Salzburg coach.

Slott often shows his players clips of Manchester City and Brighton to show them how he wants to play.

Liverpool to-do list at slot

Analysis by Andy Jones

Will the 4-2-3-1 system work?

The squad the slot inherits is packed with exciting young talent coupled with world-class experience. The Dutchman’s style bears similarities to Klopp’s, but there are differences, starting with the formation.

Liverpool’s transfer business in recent seasons has focused on signing versatile players, so most of the squad they inherit are not committed to a specific role that can only be played in Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.

For example, the likes of Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, and Ryan Gravenberch could fill the No. 10 role that Slot loves.

Tactically, Slott’s challenge is to make Liverpool more organized and solid to prevent conceding goals after a lack of clean sheets played a part in the disappointing end to the season. More composure and conviction in attacking areas is another area to improve as well.

Alexander Arnold position

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of Liverpool’s crown jewels, but whether staying at right-back or moving to midfield suits him better has long been a topic of debate.

The problem was partly solved by the inverted full-back role, but since his return from injury he has not been used much or been very effective.

Slott likes to use an inverted full-back, but he also wants his winger or full-back to provide width to one side.

Alternatively, if Slott sticks to a 4-2-3-1 system, a double pivot midfield could be the ideal way to move Alexander-Arnold inside and give him a more structured influence in the build-up.

Is Nunez good enough?

For the second season in a row, Darwin Nunez finished the season on the bench and out of form. Old question marks, largely over his ability to finish attacks, have resurfaced in recent months after periods of the season in which he was Liverpool’s main man.

Slott has to decide whether he can be the man who turns Nunez into the great player Liverpool were hoping to buy two summers ago. Firstly, regaining his confidence will be crucial as the striker is clearly unhappy with his current form and lack of influence.

All the tools are there, can the new manager put the pieces together and get Nunez to put the ball in front of goal and become a consistent striker? The underlying numbers are all positive, but the key statistics have room for improvement.

What is Salah’s role?

Slot prefers wingers who are strong ball carriers and have a high shot success rate. This is an area that has been diminishing in Mohamed Salah’s game for some time.

In recent months, Al-Masry has looked human, and while his goals and assists numbers have remained excellent, his all-round level has fallen below his high standards.

Could Salah continue to play out wide, or will his recent form dictate an opportunity for the 32-year-old in a No.9 position, bringing him closer to goal and streamlining his role?

Is Konate reliable enough?

It is testament to the performance of Jarel Quansah that he rose above Konate in the pecking order to end the season as first choice alongside Virgil van Dijk.

However, Konate’s form is worrying. The French defender has lost confidence in his style of play, especially in possession, as teams feel comfortable with him in possession due to his limited passing range.

Slott wants ball-playing centre-backs because they are a key part of the initial build-up phase. With Joel Matip already gone, a centre-back should be on Liverpool’s shopping list, and whether the new manager is able to help Konate regain his confidence and improve on the ball may determine if another player is needed.

(Top image: Maurice van Steen/AFP/AFP via Getty Images)