Liverpool have been given an insight into how Feyenoord boss Arne Slot would adapt to taking over the Reds.
The club are searching for Jurgen Klopp's replacement and Slot is one of the most recent names to be linked with the upcoming vacancy at Anfield. The ECHO understands that Slot has emerged as a leading contender for the job and that Liverpool have opened negotiations with Feyenoord.
Slot led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title last season, the club's first since 2017, and has claimed the KNVB Cup this term. The 45-year-old coach was linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job last summer and Europan football expert Andy Brassell has spoken about Slot’s suitability to become Liverpool manager, including his past successes and willingness to develop teams.
READ MORE: Liverpool legend was found 'safe and well' after reunion absence sparked bizarre online search
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp shares surprise at 'over the top' Everton and Liverpool reaction he wants
“I think if you look at Feyenoord’s points total and the way they’ve played, in any normal season they are winning the league again but PSV have been absolutely outstanding. They have won the Dutch Cup, and this is a guy who has got a consistent record of success and playing attacking football over a number of years,” Brassell told Sky Sports News, reflecting on Slot’s domestic record.
“In the Covid season, in 2019/20, he could have easily won the league with AZ [Alkmaar] had the league not been brought to an abrupt halt.”
In terms of working with Liverpool’s squad, Brassell believes that Slot’s playing style would not be a wild departure from Klopp’s current tactics. The journalist added that Slot developed a rivalry with former Liverpool nemesis Jose Mourinho, with Feyenoord coming up against his Roma side in each of the last three seasons, including the 2022 Europa Conference League final.
“I think that the idea of developing teams and working with younger players as well is something that really chimes with Liverpool at the moment,” he explained. “I think the way he wants to attack is something that would really appeal to Liverpool fans. Someone who wants his teams to always find a way to put pressure on the opposition, to press to score goals. They do that in Europe as well.
“No one is quite like Klopp in front of the media but Slot is no shrinking violet at all,” Brassell added. “We’ve seen this in those Roma games when he’s come face-to-face with Jose Mourinho, upset him, and not backed down.”
There would be understandable question marks regarding whether Slot could achieve the same level of success, moving across from the Eredivisie to the Premier League. However, Brassell insists that somewhat inevitable comparisons to Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag would be wide of the mark.
“Premier League clubs have known he would fit here well for quite a while. The Premier League has moved towards possession and being on the front foot so it’s probably the right time,” Brassell continued.
“Of course, there’s a gap [between the Eredivisie and the Premier League] but it’s different to being a player because he will have better players at his disposal. If you look at Erik ten Hag, something that’s never really talked about, Ajax had a tonne of defensive problems in his last six months.
“Even when Erik ten Hag was doing pretty well with Manchester United last year, in some of the defeats they really bottomed out, particularly defensively, so it suggests that some of those issues are something he hasn’t really worked on.
“Whereas, Feyenoord have pretty much the best defensive record in the Eredivisie and they have done over the last two seasons.”
