Arne Slot’s first Liverpool interview: ‘Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola rivalry is my football inspiration’

Liverpool boss Arne Slott has given fans a hint of what to expect next season, saying his style of football was inspired by the rivalry between his Anfield predecessor Jurgen Klopp and the Manchester City boss , Pep Guardiola.

Slot left Feyenoord in the summer to replace Klopp, who spent nine years at Anfield, and the Dutchman gave his first club interview at Liverpool.

The 45-year-old insists his similar style of football to Klopp was one of the reasons Liverpool appointed him.

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“I think that’s also one of the reasons I came in, because the way Liverpool ‘scouted’ me. I’m not sure if that’s the right word – they were looking for, not exactly the same type, but when something was successful (with) a certain way of playing, you’d want to expand on that or continue with that. This is probably one of the reasons why they came to me as well.

“It’s my style, but it’s the style of a lot of modern coaches at the moment. We were all a bit inspired by the rivalry between City and Liverpool.

“We were all inspired by Guardiola and Klopp and I think at a big club, where I worked at Feyenoord, that’s probably the only style you can play – have the ball a lot, have a lot of energy. and now there are comparisons between the club I left behind and the club I will work for now.”

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More to come…

The making of Arne Slot: Why he’s right for Liverpool

Slott has replaced Klopp as Liverpool manager – but who is the man the club believe can lead them into this new era and what can they expect from the 45-year-old Dutch manager?

In conversation with those who coached and those who were coached by Slot, as well as colleagues on his staff, we examine the evolution of the Liverpool manager, exploring his tactical ideas, his management and his handling of the media.

Read Adam Bate’s article here…

fixtures Liverpool: The Reds start with a trip to Ipswich

Slot begins his Liverpool reign with a lunchtime trip to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on the opening Saturday of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

The Dutchman will then face compatriot Erik ten Hag as Liverpool take on their arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in just his third game in charge of the club, with the game currently scheduled for Saturday, August 31.

Liverpool’s first six games of the 2024/25 Premier League

All arrangements are subject to change.

August

17: Ipswich (a) – Kick-off 12.30pm

24: Brentford (h)

31: Manchester United (a)

September

14: Nottingham Forest (h)

21: Bournemouth (h)

28: Wolves (a)

Liverpool have the easiest start

Analysis from Sky Sports data analyst Adam Smith:

Liverpool they have the easiest opening six games in the Premier League on paper, according to the average position of their opponents in the league last season.

The Reds’ average future opponent in the league ranked just 14.8th in the league last term.

(c) Sky Sports 2024: Arne Slot’s first Liverpool interview: ‘Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola rivalry is my football inspiration’