Liverpool picked up a comfortable victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday to provide a satisfactory farewell to Jurgen Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp will now take a sabbatical from management, and Liverpool are set to embark on a new era under Arne Slot.
During his farewell speech at Anfield on Sunday, Klopp addressed the fans and urged them to support the Dutch manager just as they supported him when he joined the club in 2015. Slot has done an impressive job at Feyenoord, and it will be interesting to see if he can make an instant impact at Liverpool now.
There is no doubt that the 45-year-old is a talented manager with a bright future in the game. But the pressure at a club like Liverpool will be exceptional, and it will be interesting to see if he can cope with that challenge.
Klopp was a phenomenal appointment for Liverpool, as he helped them win every single trophy they competed for apart from the UEFA Europa League. The German tactician’s influence at the club stems beyond the pitch, and he has galvanised the club during his tenure.
Liverpool will not just miss Klopp the manager, but they will also miss his inspirational and charismatic personality. Here at The Hard Tackle, we analyse the five major challenges Liverpool will face after the departure of Klopp.
Futures of key players
Key players like Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson Becker are all facing uncertain futures at the club. They are nearing the end of their respective deals, and Liverpool should look to renew their contracts as soon as possible.
With Klopp no longer at the club, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince these players to commit their long-term features to the club. They might feel that Liverpool could struggle to challenge for major trophies under a new manager right away, and it will not be a surprise if a couple of them decide to angle for a move away.
Players like van Dijk, Salah and Alisson are in their thirties, and they cannot afford to waste their prime years in a side that might have to go through a rebuild. However, recent reports and comments suggest they are headed nowhere in the near future.
Ability to attract top players
There is no doubt that Liverpool will need to improve their squad during the summer transfer window, and they have managed to attract elite talents when Klopp was at the club. Convincing top players to join the Merseyside outfit without a reputed manager like him could prove to be exponentially difficult.
Arne Slot has done an impressive job in the Eredivisie. But he simply does not have the clout needed to attract players who are used to playing in the top European leagues in the best teams.
For example, a manager like Slot would definitely struggle to attract someone like Thiago Alcantara. In addition, talented young players will also want to be coached by world-class managers, and Slot is relatively unproven at the highest level.
Ability to punch above their weight on a limited budget
Liverpool have been punching above their weight consistently under Klopp over the years. Under the German tactician, Liverpool had a lower net spend than Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. The Reds simply cannot compete with their rivals financially, and it will be interesting to see if Slot can put together a competitive squad on a shoestring budget.
Slot has an impressive record at Feyenoord when it comes to signing players on a bargain. But executing that in the Premier League is a whole different ball-game. Liverpool are up against financial behemoths like Manchester City, and exceeding expectations on a limited budget could prove to be a formidable challenge.
Major trophies vs money spent since Jurgen Klopp’s appointment at Liverpool 🏆💰 pic.twitter.com/PDWCGgFJxJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 5, 2024
Winning over the dressing room
Liverpool have a number of top-class players at their disposal, and some of their players, like Mohamed Salah, have big egos, with the Egyptian international publicly clashing with Jurgen Klopp over the years.
It will be Interesting to see if Arne Slot can handle players of that calibre and keep the harmony of the dressing room intact. Klopp’s larger-than-life personality certainly helped when it came to handling the egos of the top players, and it remains to be seen how Slot fares in that department.
Managing the expectations
Jurgen Klopp has set the bar high at Liverpool during his time at the club. Liverpool are now used to competing for trophies every season. They have been in the thick of things when it comes to the Premier League title race and domestic trophies on a fairly regular basis.
The fans will be expecting similar performances going ahead. It will be interesting to see if Slot can live up to the expectations and deliver immediately. Football at the highest level is a ruthless game, and the Dutchman will be judged immediately.
He is stepping into the shoes of one of the greatest Premier League managers of all time, and although he should be afforded time to reshape the team in his image, he will have to make his mark almost instantly. On to you, Arne.
