Gini Wijnaldum gives his verdict on Arne Slot, calling him Liverpool’s “world-class” midfielder

The Premier League season may have just ended, but that doesn’t mean it’s been a quiet few weeks at Anfield.

Liverpool are of course preparing for a new era following the departure of Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season, with Arne Slot appointed as the club’s new head coach.

Slot officially began his role on June 1, but life at Anfield won’t really begin until the first few weeks of July when Liverpool’s players return to pre-season.

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Meanwhile, the ECHO takes a look at the latest news you may have missed this off-season.

Gini Wijnaldum praises Arne Slot

Former Anfield fan favorite Gini WIjnaldum has praised Arne Slot and compared the Dutchman to both Wi Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.

The 33-year-old, who won the Champions League and Premier League during his time with the Reds, began his professional career at Feyenoord before leaving for PSV Eindhoven in 2011.

However, while the midfielder awaited a move from Paris Saint-Germain in August, he returned to Feyenoord to keep his fitness levels high. There it intersected with Slot.

And speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, Wijnaldum reserved his praise for Liverpool’s new boss: “I trained for a few days at Feyenoord at the start of this season and saw how Slot worked,” said Wijnaldum. “It was of a very high standard; I thought it was really great.

“I can compare him to (Jurgen) Klopp and (Jose) Mourinho and say Slot is at the same level.”

ECHO says: Liverpool fans should take heart from Wijnaldum’s words, with the Dutchman working with some great managers – including Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp Mauricio Pochettino and Louis van Gaal – during his professional career.

Wijnaldum’s accolade is similar to Van Gaal’s at the weekend, proving that Liverpool’s new head coach has clearly earned plenty of respect in his native Holland for his impressive work at Feyenoord in recent seasons.

The Reds midfielder is set for a bright future at Anfield

Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has the potential to become world class.

The 22-year-old moved to Anfield from Bayern Munich last summer in a deal worth around £35million but endured a mixed first season with the Reds as he failed to establish himself as a holding midfielder. first choice for Jurgen Klopp’s team.

However, Van der Vaart believes Gravenberch has the potential to become one of the best in the world in his position, having already played for three of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said: “If Bayern and Liverpool want you, then go. He really has the potential to be world class.

“If you go from Ajax to Bayern and Liverpool and you don’t play a lot, then it’s better to choose a club where you know you’re only going to do a lot of minutes. And he didn’t do that.

“But in the games he’s played, you can see he really is a (quality) midfielder. I think he’s that good. His potential is unbelievable.”

ECHO says: It’s no surprise to see Gravenberch heaped with such high praise from Van der Vaart – even after a difficult first season at Anfield.

Of the 22-year-old’s 26 Premier League appearances this season, just 12 of those have been starts as he has fallen behind Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones – and later Harvey Elliott – in the pecking order general of the midfield.

But there were moments of promise from Gravenberch who, after a difficult summer last year in limbo at Bayern Munich, will be hoping to start and enjoy a stronger season at Anfield.