Liverpool are edging closer to naming the manager who will follow Jurgen Klopp this summer.
The Reds’ on-pitch season now appears to be pretty much over. After they lost to Everton on Wednesday, Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge is no more.
As a result, all eyes are now on who FSG will pick as their replacement for Klopp. It has become apparent over the past couple of days that the chosen one is likely to be Arne Slot, currently in charge at Feyenoord.
Other names may yet still come into the fray, with Thomas Frank one who has reportedly been interviewed alongside Slot. But to all intents and purposes, the 45-year-old is the front-runner.
With Klopp’s coaching team also mainly departing, it will be interesting to see who Slot brings with him if he is appointed. For those remaining at Anfield awaiting his arrival, the excitement has already started.
Jay Spearing makes new manager claim
Jay Spearing is not part of the first-team coaching staff at Liverpool, although with others soon to depart, maybe that will change.
Either way, it was still interesting to hear what the former player had to say when asked by Stadium Astro who he’d like to see installed as Klopp’s successor.
“Do you know what, those big decision aren’t my decisions,” said the 35-year-old.
“I’m obviously under 21s, working with the young lads and my decisions are mainly bound by the academy director Alex Inglethorpe.
“But whoever comes in it will be an absolute privilege to work under. It’s been an incredible 18 months, two years for me to work under Jurgen Klopp, Pep Lijnders and Vitor [Matos]. The access we’ve had to them has been incredible, I’ve loved every single minute of it.
“But whoever comes in will be a new challenge, a fresh challenge, but also a new learning time for me. It’s a really exciting time, obviously it’s disappointing to see Jurgen leave but it will be a new start for the club and a new way of going forward hopefully.”
Who could be on Arne Slot’s coaching staff
The two coaches that Spearing mentions – Lijnders and Matos – will both be leaving the club with Klopp.
Lijnders has most recently been linked with the Besiktas job, while there are claims that he could take Matos to be part of his team.
Also departing is Peter Krawietz, who rarely seems to get a mention when these things are spoken about. But he’ll be a huge loss nonetheless.
As a result, Slot – or whoever it may be instead – has a big job on to develop their own culture at the club.
In terms of Slot, it has been reported that he’d be likely to take his assistant – Sipke Hulshoff – along with him. There’ll need to be more besides though, so maybe Spearing could throw his hat in the ring for first-team involvement.
