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Liverpool journalist Neil Jones has explained why Liverpool opted for Arne Slot over Ruben Amorim.

It was widely report that Amorim was the favourite after it became clear that Xabi Alonso was staying at Bayer Leverkusen.

The 39-year-old appeared to have all the necessary qualities to advance his career at a prestigious club like Liverpool.

Since becoming the head coach of Sporting CP in March 2020, Rúben Amorim has quickly emerged as one of the most promising coaching talents in Europe.

He uses a dynamic 3-4-3 system, focusing on a high-pressure, possession-based approach, which matches well with some of the Liverpool players.

Under his leadership, Sporting clinched the Primeira Liga title in the 2020/21 season, their first in 19 years while breaking the stranglehold of rivals Benfica and Porto.

Amorim also led his team to two Taca da Liga victories and into the knockout rounds of the Champions League, demonstrating his capability in both domestic and European arenas.

However, the situation shifted when the Portuguese coach was seen boarding a private jet bound for the UK.

He was heading to London for discussions with West Ham United, who were thought to be looking at Amorim before now settling on Julien Lopetegui.

Some speculations suggest that Amorim’s meeting with the Hammers was intended to exert pressure on Liverpool’s management, a move that appears to have backfired if such claims hold any truth.

As it stands, Rúben Amorim is no longer in consideration, with Arne Slot set to join Liverpool after an agreement was reached with Feyenoord over the past week.

Now Neil Jones has provided reasons why the Reds tended towards the Feyenoord manager.

What did Neil Jones say about Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim?

Neil Jones declared that it is ‘just a matter of time’ before Slot gets officially announced as Jurgen Klopp’s successor:

“It is just a matter of time now before Arne Slot is confirmed as Liverpool’s next manager, with everything agreed between both the clubs and the man himself,” Jones began to CaughtOffside.

“As soon as Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to step down, and even before then, the Reds were working round-the-clock to identify the right replacement.”

“From the outset, they insisted that it would be a thorough and private process, led to a large degree by the club’s data department.”

Jones then explained that the Sporting CP manager was never the favourite as claimed by some when interest was at its height:

 “Ruben Amorim was strongly linked, and is understood to have shown up well during the due diligence process.”

“But sources always insisted that the suggestion that he was a ‘preferred’ candidate was incorrect, and as I believe it, discussions never reached an advanced stage.”

“The same can be said for any number of other candidates – Roberto De Zerbi, Gary O’Neil, Unai Emery.”

“Slot’s appeal is that he has achieved success at two different clubs, both of whom have punched above their weight with him as manager.”

“He has not had huge sums to spend, or players on huge wages, and he has been able to stamp his authority on the team in terms of a clearly-defined style of play, as well as impressive communication skills.”

“Those points all ensured he was eventually deemed ‘the one’, albeit in an imperfect field.” 

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