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Playing starring roles to help the Reds win the Premier League title, the pair have not looked back since.

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They have now been joined by another international team-mate at Anfield, of course, in Jeremie Frimpong after Liverpool activated the £29.5m release clause in his Bayer Leverkusen contract at the end of last month.

He will have the biggest of shoes to fill on Merseyside, having been brought in as a replacement for the long-serving Trent Alexander-Arnold following his switch to Real Madrid.

But one of the Reds’ first ever Dutch players, Erik Meijer is backing Frimpong to rise to the challenge.

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The one-time Netherlands international made his own move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool in the summer of 1999, and is now an established Bundesliga pundit in Germany.

With multiple reasons to have followed Frimpong’s progress closely over the years as a result, he is backing the new signing to - like his compatriots - thrive under Slot at Anfield.

“He played a good, decent season at Leverkusen.

“He played a good season this year and for him, it's a huge step up.

“He learned very quickly and you see that sometimes you just need a coach who gives you confidence, who lets you make some minutes on the pitch and not on the bench.

“Then you get better and if you deliver then, then the manager gets confidence in your play, your way of play and then you get used to this and he gets better and better and gets up to the highest level and he's now also at the national team.

“When he plays, he also plays good matches.

So for him it's not a problem, he played both systems.

“That's a big bonus for Frimpong because he can play both positions, so more to the back or more offensively and that's the same what (Xabi) Alonso did with him.

“Sometimes he played in the back four and sometimes he just played the offensive, more offensive role.

“That's always nice for a coach, that you have somebody on that position who's flexible.

“I think that's a good deal.

It would be nice if we could be into the next Champions League final.”

Of course, if the Reds are to enjoy another successful season, the already existing Dutch contingent will surely be at the heart of it once again.

Which is why Meijer was glad to see Van Dijk extend his contract with Liverpool, recognising his ongoing importance at Anfield.

And having seen Gravenberch ultimately struggle at Bayern Munich, the former Reds striker is also pleased to see the young midfielder now living up to his potential under Slot.

“I think it's very important if you have some strong-holders in your team and Van Dijk is one of them,” he said.

Because these are the faces of Liverpool from the last couple of years, so it's very important that they are there."

Of Gravenberch, he said: “It’s a big compliment to Ryan who played a very good season.

You see his confidence and he grew in this season.

“At the beginning everyone was saying, ‘wow, Gravenberch is playing well in the sixth position’, and after game number 18 everybody says, ‘okay, Gravenberch is a defensive midfielder, that's normal.’

“He now has a coach who gives him confidence, who gives him minutes, who lets him play also after a not very good match.

“Next match, he's in the starting XI, gets his chance again, and he proved to everybody that he's stabilised player in the six position.”

While Liverpool signed Gravenberch from Bayern two years ago, the Bavarians are now reportedly interested in bringing Gakpo the other way from the Reds.

Meijer is not surprised that they could be interested in the forward following an impressive season on Merseyside, and admits Gakpo will face a difficult decision if Bayern do come knocking.

“He played so well and especially in his home games,” he said.