Rafa Benitez outlines what Arne Slot must get right at Liverpool as transfer point made

Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool's movement in the transfer market this summer will be pivotal to Arne Slot making a success of replacing Jurgen Klopp - and named another big aspect of the job he is taking.

Slot's arrival as Liverpool's first-ever 'head coach' was officially confirmed on Monday with the Dutchman signing a three-year deal to succeed Klopp after a near nine-year period that saw eight trophies lifted.

Having guided Feyenoord to second place in the Eredivise, Slot takes on the biggest role of his career to date at a time of huge transition within the club itself following the departure of the revered Klopp and his army of backroom staff.

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Meanwhile, Bournemouth's sporting director Richard Hughes will begin the same role at Liverpool from June 1 alongside Michael Edwards - who returns as owners Fenway Sports Group's 'CEO of football' - and Julian Ward who is also back on board as FSG's technical director.

In a radical overhaul of the backroom and executive team at Anfield, Bournemouth's Mark Burchill will move to Anfield's recruitment department to work alongside chief scout Barry Hunter and head of recruitment Dave Fallows. And Benitez insists the transfers need to improve the squad if Slot is to challenge for major honours next season.

In a column for The Telegraph, 2005 Champions League winner Benitez offered advice to the man who is walking into the same job he did 20 years ago. "If you ask my opinion on what awaits Arne Slot, it is important to remember the context because you have to compare Liverpool now to when I joined in 2004," Benitez writes.

"Following Jurgen Klopp is not easy, but the most important question for any manager going into a new club is always, ‘How good are the players?’ and ‘Can they fit how we want to play?’

"If you already have a good team, you can win straight away. There may not be too much to do in the transfer market. But if you are taking over a team coming to the end of a cycle, or where big players want to leave, the challenge is different. Players in their mid-30s will not perform like they did at 28. They are already in decline.

"The first two or three signings for the new manager are always massive. You have to get it right straight away. When I joined Liverpool, there was a lot of work to do. Chelsea were very strong and were spending a lot of money. Manchester United were already there, always competing for the title."

Benitez added: "Another big aspect of the job is dealing with the media. You cannot ignore what is said or written about Liverpool, or what they call ‘the noise’. It is impossible. Sometimes you need to know what the pundits are saying because you will be asked about it in the press conferences. It is better to be educated to prepare.

"The difficulty now is the power of social media with so many people who do not have a clue about football giving misinformation. That is more of a complication and you must separate the views of the majority of supporters from the few who shout loud on social media.

"That means communication is massive, as is connecting with the true supporters. There are many people at a football club with different titles, and many may think they are the ‘boss’. But there is only one person whose face is always in front of the fans once, twice or three times a week in press conferences, before and after the game.

"Coping with that pressure is massive and so is sending the right message. I worked hard to improve my English before I moved to the country, listening to Beatles songs! Everyone always talks about my famous ‘facts’ press conference. The fact is I was right and everyone knew it then and still knows it now!

"Liverpool have seen qualities in Arne that they like. My biggest advice to him or to any manager is he must be himself while understanding the culture of the club and the city he is coming to work. Once he understands that, he has made a positive first step and he will be guided down the right path."