Arne Slot recalls the instant impression Liverpool made on his first visit to Anfield seven years ago and advises Darwin Nunez to ‘fit in really well’ after a phone call with the forward

• Arne Slot’s first experience of visiting Anfield was seven years ago
• He spoke about this and many other topics in the first interview with the British press
• LISTEN: Join us as we debate the BIGGEST talking points on It’s All Kicking Off! EURO DAILY. Available wherever you take your podcasts

Arne Slot sat in the stands at Anfield for the first time in 2017, when he was managing lower league Dutch side Cambuur Leeuwarden, and was struck – not necessarily by the noise, but by the belief and togetherness.

He was in England at the invitation of his good friend and compatriot Pepijn Lijnders, who was Liverpool’s assistant manager until he left to join RB Salzburg this summer, and Slot was here to discuss possible loan signings, with Pedro Chirivella the main target.

Perched next to assistant sporting director Julian Ward, Slot was in town on a business trip but enjoyed the match and the occasion, a 2-0 win over Tottenham. What seems inconceivable now is that Liverpool had won just one of their previous 10 games prior to that Spurs clash.

But despite some troubling form, Slot noticed something different about the fanbase – not one of them had a negative word to say about Jurgen Klopp, instead Anfield recognized the long-term project ahead of them and noted that if it would be successful, it would take time.

And time is what he will get at Liverpool. The club is in a much healthier position than it was when Klopp first arrived on these shores, at least in terms of squad structure and quality, so the goalposts of what constitutes success are slightly different.

But if he doesn’t immediately click, Slot has the full support of the hierarchy, led by new CEO of Football at owners Fenway Sports Group Michael Edwards – who spoke to Slot on that 2017 trip – and sporting director Richard Hughes, already a close ally .

“At the time (visiting Anfield) I was at Cambuur Leeuwarden, I wasn’t playing at the highest level in Holland, so there was a big difference between where I was then and now,” Slot said, speaking to British national newspapers. for the first time.

‘We talked a bit and got a look and feel of the club, but not in a way that I assumed six years down the line I’d be in this position! We were like two fans going to the game. It was before winning the Premier League and Champions League.

“You know better than anyone that people liked what Jurgen did here.” It changed the style of play and how many times the team won. Everyone was positive even then, without the team at that stage winning trophies.

As in many outposts of Britain on the Friday after the general election, this was the first speech by a new man in office, dressed in red. But the difference here is that Slot didn’t promise change – he promised to build on Klopp’s ideologies and follow the same principles.

The style of play will be similar, the commanding but friendly way of communicating will be more of the same – and the approach of promoting youth players without becoming great in the transfer market will follow the trend of yesteryear. A new leader, but not a radical change.

Slot had a large entourage filling the back row of the media auditorium, led by super agent Rafaela Pimenta and other members of his representation team, plus right-hand men Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters. They watched him with smiles as he delivered a sure address.

He had no memorable quotes from Klopp’s first speech, in which he declared himself “normal” and promised to “turn doubters into believers”, but Slot showed he has the charisma to do his weekly thing. engaging and insightful press assignments.

The Dutchman will spend the weekend cheering on the Netherlands in their European Championship quarter-final with Turkey – but he has a busy day ahead as Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are set to return to pre-season training in the coming days.

Eight first-team players were in Kirkby on Friday to complete fitness tasks with cardio tests, impact work and strength training, although many others were in attendance, such as Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott. There was still some work done with the ball, although Stefan Bajcetic was seen taking some shots.

Slot has spent the past few weeks trying out players who are away on international duty, such as Darwin Nunez. “I called every manager of the national team and asked if we could have players before the tournaments, but they all said no!”, joked the boss.

“I guess Nunez will fit in (my style of play) really well because I like him. I already told him. He is one of the players I spoke to. He may have had some struggles with finishing opportunities, but he came up in those positions plenty of times.

“I think he could fit in very well, but it’s normal at a club that there are a lot more players who could play in his position. It is clear to him what position he is going to play. It is clear to me too, and I told him that I told him clearly.

It’s a slightly bizarre start to life in Liverpool for Slot, with only half of his new charges present – like a new teacher starting his lessons with half the class on a school trip. Those who go deep into their tours would be unlikely to go to the US tour at the end of July.

But luckily for Slot and his team, the lesson plan hasn’t changed much from what they’re used to. He has big shoes to fill in Klopp’s place, but as Liverpool’s extensive pursuit has identified, he looks set to fit in just fine.