Arne Slot stops Jurgen Klopp tradition as new manager puts stamp on Liverpool training

Taking over from a legend like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool would have been an intimidating prospect for many managers across Europe.

Arne Slot, however, showed the right amount of respect during his first appearance as Klopp's successor, without giving the impression that he felt undeserving of his new prestigious role.

During his Friday morning press conference, Slot didn't downplay the magnitude of Klopp's accomplishments, but neither did he let it overshadow his first interaction with the media.

When asked about Klopp in his very first question, Slot replied: "I think it's not about what I tell you now. It's more special what Jurgen did to this club. When he arrived he said he was 'the normal one', but I think what made him special is the impression he left behind.

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"Winning trophies, of course, but his playing style I think the fans loved it. Maybe he said he was 'the normal one', but I think the fans see him differently. Maybe not as a person, but what he did for the club was more than normal, let's put it that way."

He later added: "I think you can look at it both ways. Yeah, there are big shoes to fill. You can also look at it in a way that you inherit a squad and a team that has a winning culture."

Slot's arrival at Liverpool has been kept low-key. Officially joining on June 1, the club decided to forego a press conference, allowing time for emotions to settle following Klopp's departure at the end of the season.

This was a wise decision, and seeing Slot immediately get down to business with his squad at the AXA Training Centre on Friday showed a head coach eager to communicate his ideas quickly and avoid the usual media frenzy that comes with a managerial change at Liverpool.

While Slot made several references to his playing style and why it was chosen as the best fit for Klopp's legacy, fans and players will inevitably have to adjust to subtle changes in strategy over the coming days, weeks, and months.

Staff from various departments who have interacted with Slot since his arrival have all noted his grounded and confident attitude. The former Feyenoord coach is self-assured and not intimidated by the enormity of the task ahead, even if the full scale of Liverpool FC will only truly hit home during the pre-season tour of the United States later this month.

For now, Slot is focused on making his mark where he believes it matters most: on the pitch, working with the players at his disposal.

His understated, no-nonsense style throughout the weekend has been telling of his approach at his new club. Gone are the days when the early stages of pre-season were overshadowed by the infamous lactate test under Klopp and his team.

Now, there's a fresh challenge in town with Klopp's traditional introduction to pre-season replaced by Slot.

The Reds have swapped the well-known lactate test for a gruelling Six-Minute Race Test (6MRT) this pre-season. It's an endurance test that does exactly what it says on the tin: a six-minute dash around a 400m track, with players pushing to cover between 1.5 and 2km as quickly as they can.

Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, and Sepp van Den Berg were put through their paces with this test over the weekend, under the watchful eyes of Dr Conall Murtagh and the newly appointed performance coach Ruben Peeters. Slot was on hand, urging the lads to "go all in".

The young trio emerged from the test visibly exhausted, giving the squad a taste of the new regime's preferred methods.

Come Sunday, the footballs, goals, and cones made their return as the team delved into various tactical and technical drills following some earlier light gym work at the AXA Training Centre. Talents such as Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott, and Curtis Jones joined in, offering Slot a sneak peek at the emerging talent he has at his disposal.

While Anfield may be bracing for a season of transformation, there have been no grand proclamations or attempts to coin memorable phrases in the initial stages of this entirely new regime. Instead, there's just a silent resolve to roll up their sleeves and get down to business.