When Jurgen Klopp shocked Anfield on Sunday by leading a chant of ‘Arne Slot, na na na na na’ — to the tune of Live is Life by Opus — the mind could not help turning back to 2013 and Sir Alex Ferguson‘s final address to Old Trafford.
‘The most important thing now is (for fans) to get behind our new manager,’ he said upon retiring. Look how that turned out. The only chant sang about his replacement was led by Manchester City fans. ‘David Moyes is a football genius,’ they sang in mockery.
So in many ways, Liverpool must learn from their bitter rivals when it comes to succeeding in an era that could become a hangover to a legendary boss. But it is a fairly moot comparison. While United are a mess of a club, Liverpool still have the foundations for success.
With a complete overhaul at executive level – led by new CEO of Football Michael Edwards, sporting director Richard Hughes, plus hires of Julian Ward and Pedro Marques – the structure is in place for new head coach Slot to prove his methods can work in Rotterdam or anywhere.
On one hand, there is a mounting in-tray which will greet Slot when he officially starts work in early June. But Liverpool’s thorough, data-led recruitment process has led them to believe he is the man to solve many problems he may face.
Liverpool must learn from bitter rivals Manchester United when it comes to succeeding with their new manager
The Reds confirmed on Monday that Arne Slot (pictured) will take over from Jurgen Klopp
Things when downhill rapidly for United when David Moyes (pictured) replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as boss
Central to that is his ability to improve underperforming talent. Cough cough, Darwin Nunez. The big-money striker has just two goals in his last 15 appearances and the Klopp era ended with the Uruguayan in somewhat of a strop over being consigned to a substitute role.
But Nunez, who Slot is said to have namechecked directly in a face-to-face interview with sporting director Hughes, will surely benefit from a new face. One case study is Argentinian striker Santiago Gimenez.
Plucked from relative obscurity in Mexican side Cruz Azul, Gimenez scored 14 goals across his last two seasons in Liga MX. Under the tutelage of Slot at Feyenoord, he netted 49 in two years and told English reporters at De Kuip this month: ‘As a person and coach, Arne is complete.
‘It was a big step (for me) to come from Mexico to the Netherlands and he gave me confidence. He always pushed me to be better. I am really grateful to Arne, I hope he can do well everywhere. He can talk really well with the players.’
Mail Sport reported a fortnight ago how Nunez will continue to be backed by Liverpool, amid reports linking him to Barcelona. The club are not willing to give up on him yet – and that is amplified by Slot’s ability to nurture talents.
Another star who might benefit from his coaching is Luis Diaz – another to be linked away from the club by foreign media. Slot is said to ‘love wingers’. At Feyenoord, he turned Luis Sinisterra from an unwanted flop into one of their record sales. He is now at Bournemouth, via Leeds.
Slot has been appointed under the guise of head coach rather than manager so he will not have a hands-on input in contracts and transfers but also top of his in-tray is the expiring deals of captain Virgil van Dijk, highest-earner Mohamed Salah and key man Trent Alexander-Arnold.
All three have just a year remaining on their contracts and all face an uncertain future. Van Dijk has in the past alluded to how he wanted to see the new manager in action before committing his future. Nothing to worry about just yet but one to keep an eye on.
United have not won the Premier League since Ferguson left his role over a decade ago in 2013
One of Slot’s main tasks will be improving underperforming talent, such as Darwin Nunez (front)
The futures of captain Virgil van Dijk (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) must also be sorted out
Trent Alexander-Arnold was visibly emotional at full time on Saturday, setting rumour mills whirring
Salah has long been courted by the big-spending sharks of Saudi Arabia and it is not sensationalising to suggest they will go all out for him again this summer. He loves the club, despite a tiff with Klopp a month ago, and wants to continue playing at a top level.
Alexander-Arnold was visibly emotional at full-time in Klopp’s last game which set the rumour mills whirring, not least in the Kop as he wiped away tears and performed a solo lap of honour. Real Madrid and other clubs are keeping an eye on his situation.
Scouser Alexander-Arnold has an affinity to the club like few others. One could not blame him, after winning everything on offer here, if he was tempted by a change of scenery. But like Van Dijk, he is not going to rush a decision. Van Dijk said no new contract offers are on the table yet.
Slot emerged as Liverpool’s No 1 candidate after a thorough process which relied heavily on data, led by head of research Will Spearman, Edwards and Hughes. His ability to take players to the next level and harness a squad’s potential proved pivotal.
Liverpool’s hierarchy also noted how Slot has significantly overperformed. Before his arrival, Feyenoord were a club in disarray with just one league title in the 21st century. He has returned them to one of Holland’s super-powers.
Liverpool’s hierarchy are said to have noted how Slot has overperformed in his work with Feyenoord
Slot, who uses a system not too dissimilar from Klopp’s, is known to use wacky methods to maximise success, with incoming head of performance Ruben Peeters leading quirky research into gut health and DNA research. The boss spends hours analysing opponents and is known to ‘delete’ negative footage to not harm confidence.
All the numbers in Liverpool’s recruitment process pointed to Slot as the man for the job – but he knows that statistics mean little if he does not do his talking on the pitch. Like Moyes at United, he has sizable shoes to fill. But with a solid structure above him, he can slot in just fine.
