6 months ago
104 Some Liverpool fans may be feeling quite sceptical as Arne Slot prepares to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
The Dutchman has never managed outside of the Netherlands, for a start.
A few supporters may also be concerned by the fact Erik ten Hag succeeded at Ajax in the Eredivisie, but has since struggled in England with Manchester United.
However, there is actually a familiar face to Arne Slot who is already at Liverpool – and the pair once did something that could help life after Jurgen Klopp run smoothly…
Arne Slot knows Pep Lijnders
Well, the 45-year-old actually knows Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s No.2 at Anfield.
During Slot’s time in charge of AZ Alkmaar, he created a bespoke player database with the Dutchman – according to The Athletic – as resources available at the time simply weren’t good enough.
That creation could now help the man from Bergentheim recruit hidden gems to aid his career at Liverpool – boosted by the brain of Michael Edwards, who is now back at Anfield working in a CEO of Football role.
Furthermore, the fact Slot is already familiar with Lijnders should make his early days at Liverpool run a bit more seamlessly, as the 41-year-old will be able to hand his friend a dossier regarding the ins and outs of life at Anfield, including specific details on the squad.
Of course, the current Feyenoord boss will arrive at Liverpool with his own ideas and will not want to simply copy Klopp, but a bit of insight into the current crop of players certainly wouldn’t go amiss.
Liverpool are well placed
Moving on from a club legend can be a tough situation to navigate – just ask Manchester United and Arsenal after the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger respectively.
However, Liverpool seem well placed to deal with life after Klopp.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal had poor infrastructure in terms of employing the right people in recruitment and director roles, but Liverpool have now brought back one of the smartest minds in football in Edwards, who has since hired Richard Hughes from Bournemouth as Director of Football.
With those two in place – and months to prepare after Klopp’s announcement in January – we believe Liverpool will remain competitive, even after the German departs Merseyside.
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