Arne Slot: favorite to replace Jurgen Klopp Photo: Ed van de Pol/Getty Images
There is one consolation for Liverpool after a desperate defeat in the Merseyside derby; replacing Jurgen Klopp is not an 'impossible task'.
At least on the pitch.
Reality has hit Anfield. Liverpool clung to the idea of beating Manchester City and Arsenal for the title, despite remaining weaknesses in their squad. The quality of the champions has never been like this: too many flaws to stand the test, which, in truth, lasted longer than expected.
Klopp's successor, who now appears to be Feyenoord's Arne Slot, has much to improve on after a season that ultimately promised more than it delivered. No manager coming to Anfield should consider it an impossible task to make his first year at Liverpool better than Klopp's last.
This is good news. The bad news is that the man best placed to oversee Liverpool's next move is leaving.
If Klopp were at the helm next season, Liverpool would move forward and challenge again at home and in Europe . Thanks to Slot, this absolute faith will give way to hope.
This is in no way a criticism of the New Dutchman. Once Klopp announced he was leaving and Xabi Alonso ruled himself out, Liverpool's options were limited. No matter how brilliant Slott is – and no one wins a league title or takes a team to a European final without serious credentials – the next manager will always be highly respected, but not the one who will necessarily set pulses racing.
There is no one who can replicate Klopp's aura, authority and natural connection with the fans – that “X factor” that is so elusive.
Since the news of the slot broke, I have heard and read many points of view suggesting that this choice makes tactical sense and that Feyenoord's style data makes him a natural choice.
A slot is a meeting set head, not heart. Klopp spoke to the head and the heart.
Jurgen Klopp's connection with Liverpool fans will be almost… impossible for his successor to replicate Photo: James Gill/Getty Images
When Klopp joined in 2015, Liverpool fans were grateful he chose the club when he could have waited for any club in the world. When Slote arrives, he will be grateful that Liverpool chose him and will need to justify his choice.
There is nothing new or strange about the lack of emotional connection. Most managers at any club come with the goal of winning over the fans, greatness is earned rather than instantly thrust upon them. Klopp was an exception because he arrived as a two-time Bundesliga winner with a Champions League record. Many followed his work and considered him the future manager of Liverpool.
For the first time since Rafa Benitez arrived, fresh from winning La Liga and the UEFA Cup with Valencia, Liverpool had a ready-made an elite coach is a solid manager who can harass opponents. Is the same true for the slot? This appointment is more intriguing than exciting.
Over the past nine years, Liverpool has had one of the two best managers in the world. Now they're betting on the next big thing rather than calling a proven, real deal.
“I'd rather have a proven winner”
I would take a closer look at a manager like Thomas Tuchel, who beat Pep Guardiola in the last test – the Champions League final. Tuchel followed Klopp to Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and did well. Nothing has worked out for Bayern Munich this season, but you only have to look at Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery to understand how top coaches recover from failure.
If Tuchel is taken by another English club, that will convince me. they will improve significantly, but I believe Liverpool do not need a manager with a reputation for being capricious.
I would prefer a proven winner who may be difficult to manage over a manager who is easy to manage but still needs to to prove everything.
My main concern is this: will Slote move to England ready to fight him? Guardiola in the Premier League and Champions League?
Liverpool's new manager must say from the outset that he is here to win, not just compete.
After years of Klopp in charge, no one at Liverpool wants to hear about periods of transition, seasons of consolidation or ” minimum requirements” to qualify for the Champions League. Klopp's triumph dashed mild expectations and restored Liverpool's status as a team to fear.
This is not 2010, 2012 or 2015, when significant reconstruction was required. The club have a base from which to improve next season: the team are technically still in the title race with four games remaining, although they now need an unlikely set of results to win.
This should be the direction. and further, despite changes at the top.
Liverpool appear to be entering an era where they want the manager's priority to be solely the preparation of the team, with Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes taking on much of the responsibility for building the squad. The new hierarchy has never given the impression that they are looking for the next Klopp – a force of nature who will fight the necessary battles to ensure the squad matches his desires.
Michael Edwards will take primary responsibility for the Liverpool team after Klopp's departure
Appointing a manager to report to executives is theoretically a good idea. In practice, the dynamics change quickly.
It would be naive to believe that a successful Liverpool manager would not become a figurehead or spokesman whose every word resonates with the fans.
Managers are keen to speak at three press conferences a week, becoming the voice of the club whether they or their bosses like it or not. The face must fit and they must speak the language of the fans. This is not only true for Liverpool, but I would say there is no club or city where this is so important. This is the culture of the club and it will not change.
Klopp has never had to work on it. It happened naturally.
For my former coaches, Gerard Houllier and Benitez, this developed over time with the help of trusted advisers whose knowledge they valued. Once they established themselves and won trophies, their relationship with the Kop gave them strength. There have been times when it has been argued that they have too much power and control because the fans have always supported their opinions on the executives. The same was said about Klopp, and the fact that Edwards resigned as sporting director only to return to Fenway Sports Group immediately after the manager handed in his notice is indicative of a previous power struggle. Liverpool's recruitment policy has undoubtedly become more chaotic since Edwards retired in 2022, with big-money signings such as Darwin Nunes lacking consistency to justify fees.
< p>The slot will be a symbol of the new regime and a different approach to what Liverpool hope is the same destination.
From the start of the 2006–07 season to 2019, Liverpool have only won the Carabao Cup. They have won almost every trophy in the last five years and unfortunately they have failed to win more.
Klopp is the single most important reason for this success. When he leaves, not only Sloth's reputation will be on the line, but also the reputation of those who believe he is ready to step into the shoes of such a legend.
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