With Jurgen Klopp on the way out at Liverpool, we might soon see a change in style of play for the Reds.
So used to Klopp’s aggressive pressing tactics for so long, the players will have to adapt to the instructions of a new manager.
As things stand, that looks virtually certain to be Arne Slot. The Feyenoord manager will bring his own ideas to a first-team squad that is already brimming with talent.
Some of those within the Reds squad are some of the greatest players of a generation. Premier League and club legends make up a portion of Klopp’s playing staff.
Someone who knows a thing or two about being an icon of the game in England is former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole. And the 43-year-old Hall of Famer has today hailed two of Klopp’s finest stalwarts.
What has Ashley Cole said
Cole is currently on the coaching team at Championship side Birmingham City. As a result, he obviously has a decent tactical brain.
He also just so happens to be one of the best left-backs of all time. So, when he speaks about the modern day full-back you’d be wise to listen.
And doing exactly that during a sit down with TNT Sports on Friday, Cole hailed the qualities of Liverpool’s two marauding defenders – Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“You have to just applaud and give credit to the top ones,” he says. “You see the Trent’s and Reece James’, Robertson who’s bombing up and down but can do everything.
“There’s some top quality full-backs in the Premier League at the moment. Udogie at Tottenham who I think is elite. I enjoy watching it because it’s different to what I played in.
“I like to see the different attributes and qualities as full-backs. What you’re judging them on is totally different to what maybe people would have judged the way I played.”
How could Arne Slot use Liverpool’s full-backs
Throughout the best years of Klopp’s stay at Liverpool, his full-backs had been right at the heart of everything.
Alexander-Arnold is arguably one of the best to ever play the position, while Robertson shouldn’t be too far from that conversation either.
With Slot coming in though, it begs the question of how things will change. Trent has of course been pushing to play in midfield and one of the new manager’s biggest tasks will be deciding where to use the 25-year-old.
Robertson meanwhile is surely still set to be a big part of Liverpool’s team for some years yet. Having only just turned 30, there’s plenty more in the tank for the Scot.
In our prediction of how Slot could line the Reds up they both make the XI anyway. If the Dutchman listens to Cole, he’ll see that that is the right choice.