Style, charisma and signings - Dutch football expert explains why Arne Slot is perfect for Liverpool

No one could've predicted what impact Jurgen Klopp would've had at Liverpool when he was appointed as manager in October 2015.

The German's arrival saw a mentality shift at the entire football club, with supporters captivated by his personality and players convinced by his tactical approach.

Almost 10 years on, the German departs after the most successful period in the club's recent history with foundations laid to benefit those long after his departure. Klopp will step down with another Carabao Cup victory in the bag, although the Reds' Premier League aspirations slowly seep away following Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at their local rivals.

READ MORE: Liverpool reach agreement with Feyenoord to make Arne Slot their new manager

READ MORE: I spent a week with Arne Slot - I’m surprised Liverpool want him

What is clear, despite the club mounting an unlikely title challenge, is that Liverpool are in a much better position than what he inherited from the outgoing Brendan Rodgers. And the man who has been chosen to take on the baton from Klopp is Feyenoord manager Arne Slot.

Slot made a public declaration of his intentions to become the next Liverpool manager on Thursday, before Feyenoord's 3-1 win away at Go Ahead Eagles and a deal has now been struck between the Dutch and English giants.

And the parallels between the 45-year-old Slot and the iconic German manager are interesting. Both enjoyed playing careers outside of the top divisions in Holland and Germany respectively, and have been forced to cut their teeth in difficult managerial roles.

Both played significant roles in transforming fortunes in Liverpool and Dortmund, as well as Rotterdam. Klopp's achievements on Merseyside are clear to see but his potential successor has done an equally remarkable job in the south of Holland.

“Feyenoord fans were probably thinking the same as what Liverpool fans are thinking: ‘he’s got some credentials and possibly some merit but is he really the right guy for a club of this size?," says Dutch football expert Geert Langendorff tells the ECHO.

"Feyenoord were in the doldrums, still a big name, but financially struggling with mediocre players that played awful football and Ajax were so far ahead of them that taking over them felt like a pipedream.

"He installed that belief in the club, in the players, even on a shoestring budget."

Famously, Klopp spoke about turning Liverpool fans from doubters to believers and he has done that, but it hasn't always been plain sailing. Where there has been highs of winning the Premier League and Champions League have been the lows of losing two Champions League finals as well as the League Cup and Europa League.

Slot has had an impact wherever he has gone, whether it is Cambuur Leeuwarden, AZ Alkmaar or Feyenoord. And there are "no airs or graces" with the 45-year-old who has become a hero at De Kuip.

"It’s about inspiring people and creating the exact environment for teams to thrive in. He comes across as a psychologist and a people-manager," Langendorff says.

"The tactics, nitty-gritty, he’s into it but it’s always about influencing people, changing the environment he’s in but he’s definitely not the professorial type that you quite often see.

"That’s why fans in Rotterdam love him because they’re similar to Liverpool fans, working class, like to be entertained, in the dugout who shares their values and is not like a Jose Mourinho."

Question marks remain, however. Louis van Gaal, Frank de Boer and now Erik ten Hag are all Dutch managers who have struggled in the Premier League with the latter making the immediate switch from the Eredivisie to take the Manchester United job two year ago.

Not to mention that there are many examples in previous years of clubs enduring a significant downfall after the departure of their long-standing managers. Both Manchester United and Arsenal have fallen victim to the hangover in their bid to match the expectations of supporters who had grown accustomed to success.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane are among the pundits who have not been totally convinced by the credentials of Slot.

"It is probably the biggest question," adds Langendorff , who works for Algemeen Dagblad. "Will he be able to cope with the day-to-day scrutiny of Liverpool? Which is 10 or maybe 20 times the size of Feyenoord. I’ve read the quotes about ‘not an exciting name to be dropped’ it will be a difficult one.

"At Feyenoord, like Liverpool, you have to win over the fans and you’re the honorary mayor of the city. Feyenoord is the ideal finishing school to make this step but like we’ve seen with Van Gaal, a seasoned manager, it will be tricky but he’s definitely got a fighting chance.

"I think he’s ready but it’s always difficult to say with the track record of Dutch managers and players."

Liverpool spent north of £150m last summer on a major restructure of the team, bringing in the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch to freshen up their midfield.

With these foundations in place, as well as the embarrassment of riches within the Kirkby academy, Slot has plenty of potential to work with when he arrives at Anfield.

Prior to the agreement to bring him to the club, Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim have been named firmly linked with succeeding Klopp at Anfield. However those in power at Liverpool believe Slot's playing style is the closest to that of Klopp's and will therefore mean no major restructuring of the playing staff at Anfield.

Langendorff explains: "It’s a very logical pick for Liverpool to go for him after Klopp. At Feyenoord, he plays high-pressing football and not just waiting for triggers, like Klopp does, but his whole team when they lose the ball they try to regain the ball - preferably within three seconds.

"He can play multiple styles but preferred would be 4-3-3 and if needs be 4-2-3-1. The players he finds most important are the wingers... He wants to have two, quick, hardworking and technical wingers.

"If you look at the pool of talent at Liverpool, that’s something he likes to work with, he likes players he can still mould and Liverpool already have rejuvenated their squad so I think he’ll be happy with the current crop.

"But if he were to buy any players it would be backups for Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah or (their) successors. He will have heard the stories at the training ground about Nunez and his finishing but he can get the best out of him."

The Dutch connection is already there with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Gravenberch. The Liverpool captain will be into the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield should Slot arrive in the summer with Joel Matip out of contract at the end of the season - the defensive department has widely been tipped as the next area for reinforcements.

There is, arguably, a perfect target for Liverpool to try to acquire using the 45-year-old's connection to Feyenoord. The player: Lutsharel Geertruida, a 'versatile defender, capable of playing full-back or centre-back', Langendorff says.

Change is never nice. Klopp's untimely announcement in January was a sucker-punch that blindsided not only Liverpool fans, but football supporters around the world. There will be pressure for Liverpool to continue the brilliant work of the German and his backroom staff and there is no certainty that success will follow.

To some, the list of names mooted as the 56-year-old's successor have been underwhelming and/or uninspiring. Slot could fit in that list too but, just like nine years ago, Liverpool could appoint someone with experience albeit unproven in the English top-flight.

As Klopp transformed Liverpool from mediocrity to mentality monsters, Slot did just that in Holland. "When Jurgen Klopp arrived, yes he done well in the Bundesliga but wasn’t a very big name just yet in football and he proved everyone wrong, hitting the ground running," Langendorff argues.

"Arne Slot has all the same traits, a great character, not as tall as Klopp but fairly charismatic. He has proven that he can and will play very good football even if he has a shoestring budget to defy the odds.

"I think there will not be a major transition from Jurgen Klopp, he will tweak it a little bit, you can expect a similar style of football with players who underperformed this year, performing much better next season. Klopp has laid the groundwork and I think he can finish the job with this team.

"Feyenoord is so similar to Liverpool so if he is a success there, there is every chance that he can do similar things at Liverpool. You could see him as Jurgen-like but he very much is Arne 1.0. Just give him a chance, there’s enough positives to believe success will come naturally."