Arne Slot is on course for a sensational first season in charge of Liverpool. Considering the glowing reviews he’s had from his time in the Netherlands, perhaps his instant success shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Having replaced the iconic Jurgen Klopp last summer, things could not have gone much better for Slot since his arrival on Merseyside. He has led the Reds to a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, another Wembley final in the Carabao Cup next month, and he has them in the race for the FA Cup and Champions League as well.

Slot has become an instant hit at Anfield, with Liverpool’s players full of praise for the effect he has had since coming in, while the song bearing his name that was bestowed upon him by Klopp is now being heard at almost every game.

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His instant impact won’t come as a shock at his old club Feyenoord though, and in particular not for his former assistant John de Wolf. The 62-year-old has spent nearly four decades in football as a player or a coach, and he never quite came across anything like Slot before meeting the now-Liverpool boss.

De Wolf, who has worked under such managerial names as Rinus Michels, Dick Advocaat, Leo Beenhakker and Graham Taylor, stayed behind at Feyenoord when Slot and Sipke Hulshoff made the move to Anfield. He has though lifted the lid on Slot’s first day at Feyenoord back in 2021 for a new book on the Liverpool boss’ journey called ‘Slot Ball’, and how he was left wanting to get his boots back on as a result of his first speech.

“On day one at Feyenoord, Arne gave a wonderful presentation,” De Wolf explained.

“It was about how he wanted to play football with Feyenoord - and also what he was like as a person. I immediately thought: we have someone very special in the house.

“I also told him after a meeting of the coaching staff ‘gaffer, you are getting me so bloody excited, I wish I was a player again.’

“I just felt like wanting to play football under this manager instead of assisting him!”

Slot will be hoping he can keep that inspiration going for the remainder of this season as he keeps an unprecedented quadruple in his sights.

Liverpool will be looking to go a step closer to one of those four trophies tomorrow as they make the long trip to Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round of the FA Cup, before turning their attention to a final Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park, where they will be aiming to extend their lead in the Premier League title race to nine points.