Arne Slot reveals first talks with Liverpool squad and reacts to job title change

Arne Slot has revealed that he has already held talks with a number of his inherited Liverpool squad, but is waiting to speak to the majority of the Reds’ internationals.

Liverpool currently have 14 players away on international duty at Euro 2024 and Copa America. And while the Reds’ new head coach has reached out to captain Virgil van Dijk, he is waiting to speak to the majority in person.

“I've reached out to a few of them,” he confirmed in his first official interview with the club. “All of them after Jurgen left, because I thought that was really important to be fair to Jurgen and be fair to the players.

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“Because they had to end the season and I don't think I would be really happy if my successor would have called players before I left the club.

“Then I think it's normal to start with the captain, which is Virgil [van Dijk], which is an easy one for me because we could speak Dutch!

“And from there on I called a few others, but not many of them because most of them are in preparation, or at this moment playing, at the Euros, and some others are in preparation at the Copa America.

“So I think the best way is to keep a certain distance but also be interested in them as well. And hoping that most of them - especially the Dutch! - will still be as long as possible away so they will reach the final.

“Then afterwards I will get to meet them and I think that's a better way of getting to know each other than by phone or Zoom meetings.”

Meanwhile, Slot has also had his say on his job title after becoming the first head coach in Liverpool’s history.

A step away from a traditional ‘manager’ title, the change is understood to be a reflection of the shift in the modern game and how the majority of clubs in the Premier League and other leading leagues in Europe are moving towards such a way of working.

Slot worked as a head coach in his previous roles in the Netherlands with Slot with Cambur, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord. And as a result, he conceded the title makes little difference to him as he elaborated on how he sees his role.

“For me, it is normal because this is the way it is in Europe and in Holland,” he said. “I don't think there is much of a change between a head coach and a manager, it's just that by being a head coach I can go in fully to the things I would like to do.

“So, work with the team, prepare the team in the best possible way, and me and Richard are going to work together when it comes to transfers but not only the two of us - there is a big backroom staff included in this as well.

“I think for me it is the way I have worked always and it for me is the ideal way of working because I can use the most of my time by working with the team and the time that is left will probably be a bit for the family and a bit to talk with Richard about how we can strengthen the team. But we already have a really strong team.”