Pep Lijnders' unseen role emerges in Arne Slot becoming new Liverpool head coach

Liverpool has unveiled Arne Slot as its new head coach, though the Dutchman had made it clear that was going to happen several times in the weeks leading up to Jürgen Klopp leaving. The German then announced his successor during his leaving speech.

Slot has developed a reputation for improving players during his time in the Eredivisie and he plays a similar style of football to how Klopp had Liverpool set up. His character, by all accounts, is well-suited to the kind of head coach that Liverpool fans will want to get behind — and Klopp urged Reds supporters to do just that before he left.

As part of a stringent process to find the best successor to Klopp, Liverpool used as much available data as possible to map out how he would fit in with the current playing squad. And Pep Lijnders also played an indirect role in Slot being made the leading candidate.

READ MORE: Liverpool winners emerge from Premier League season as Arne Slot faces three big decisions
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah responds to Arne Slot appointment with clearest Liverpool transfer hint yet

While current Liverpool staff were not directly asked for their opinions on Slot, The Athletic reports that Lijnders is a big fan of his. He has 'frequently' talked up Slot's work and even exchanged ideas with him around a decade ago when they met and spoke for hours.

That kind of endorsement from a coach as well thought of as Lijnders can be no bad thing. He was also an admirer of Vitor Matos, who has done an excellent job at Liverpool since arriving from FC Porto in 2019. Lijnders is set to become Red Bull Salzburg's new head coach and Matos will be his assistant at the Austrian club.

Liverpool.com says: It can only be a good thing that Lijnders has a positive view of Slot. The pair, it is safe to assume, will have a conversation about what Liverpool is like, if they haven't already, and the advice that Lijnders is able to pass on could be vital in helping Slot settle into the role.

It goes without saying that Liverpool is a much bigger club than Feyenoord and Slot will have to adjust quickly. But he has all the tools required as a coach to be a success and the structure around him, with Michael Edwards and co, should be a solid system within which he will be working.