Four things 'definitely' happen as Liverpool confirms Arne Slot including transfers and formation

Liverpool has confirmed that Arne Slot is the chosen one. The 45-year-old Dutch coach has an impressive track record in the Netherlands, where he won the Eredivisie title last season, and after an extensive process, he emerged as the Reds' pick to replace Jürgen Klopp.

Michael Edwards, now FSG's CEO of football, has always been guided by the data during the ongoing process of identifying the best candidate for the Liverpool head coach role. And it is not hard to see why Slot scored highly: his Feyenoord side is intense, aggressive, and performs above its expected level.

Slot has experience fighting at the top end of the table and plays in a broadly similar way to how Klopp has at Liverpool, so the Reds squad will not need a complete overhaul. The only question is about how quickly he will adapt to A) the Premier League and B) to managing a massive club of Liverpool's size.

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These are the four things that Liverpool.com believes will 'definitely' happen now Slot has taken over at Anfield. As the post-Klopp era takes shape, we now know the biggest component within that.

Formation decision made

At the moment, Slot plays with a double pivot in midfield as part of a 4-2-3-1 system (though he has sometimes used a 4-3-3 as well). But that would not necessarily have to remain the same if he were to move to Liverpool.

The Dutch coach likes broadly similar things from his team to what Klopp does and he could easily adapt his ideas to use a 4-3-3 formation more often. With Liverpool having so many good midfield options, that might make more sense.

Inevitable transfer links

Liverpool might want to strengthen in a couple of places this summer but it will not be signing anyone based only on the manager who comes in. If it was Rúben Amorim, that wouldn't have meant an influx of Sporting CP players. Likewise, Slot coming in will not mean a sudden arrival of Feyenoord stars.

The links, though, are inevitable. Dirk Kuyt, speaking to the ECHO, has previously suggested that Liverpool should sign Lutsharel Geertruida and Orkun Kökçü, though the latter has already moved to Benfica.

Style of play evolves again

Slot and Klopp both like a high-pressing, high-energy way of playing. The counter-press is king when it comes to playmaking and ensuring that their sides win the ball back high upfield.

But Liverpool cannot exclusively use that method. Most teams in the Premier League sit back and defend against the Reds and that is something that Slot will have to get used to quickly. He will have more than enough quality at his disposal to be able to do that, though, and it will be particularly interesting to see what plan he might have for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim comparisons

Before Slot's name emerged, Xabi Alonso and then Rúben Amorim both appealed to Liverpool fans. Alonso, in particular, would have been a shoo-in for getting fans onside but he opted to stay with Bayer Leverkusen.

Whoever came in at Liverpool — Slot or someone else entirely — would have faced inevitable comparisons not just to Klopp but to the others that Reds supporters wanted to see installed as head coach. The new appointment will need to be their own person, however.

Trying to be a version of Klopp would never go well, even if Slot shares a broad style of play with the German. Get a few positive results early on, though, and play an exciting brand of football, with this exciting group of Liverpool players, there is a real chance to build on what is left behind.

An original version of this story was first published on April 24. It has since been updated.