Slot over Amorim, Nunez future

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It is just a matter of time now before Arne Slot is confirmed as Liverpool’s next manager, with everything agreed between both the clubs and the man himself.

For me, it is a very interesting appointment, and one which speaks both of the lack of truly outstanding candidates available at this stage, as well as Liverpool’s willingness to take a risk.

As soon as Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to step down, and even before then, the Reds were working round-the-clock to identify the right replacement. From the outset, they insisted that it would be a thorough and private process, led to a large degree by the club’s data department.

Xabi Alonso, I understand, was always considered a strong candidate, but Liverpool always felt there was a chance he would either choose to stay at Bayer Leverkusen or be tempted by a move elsewhere (Bayern Munich). As it happened, he went for the former option.

Ruben Amorim was strongly linked, and is understood to have shown up well during the due diligence process, but sources always insisted that the suggestion that he was a ‘preferred’ candidate was incorrect, and as I believe it, discussions never reached an advanced stage. The same can be said for any number of other candidates – Roberto De Zerbi, Gary O’Neil, Unai Emery.

Slot’s appeal is that he has achieved success at two different clubs, both of whom have punched above their weight with him as manager. He has not had huge sums to spend, or players on huge wages, and he has been able to stamp his authority on the team in terms of a clearly-defined style of play, as well as impressive communication skills. Those points all ensured he was eventually deemed ‘the one’, albeit in an imperfect field.

My thoughts on Slot tally with my thoughts on Liverpool’s squad in general, if I’m being honest. I’m reasonably enthused by him, but I’m also aware that having a lot of ‘potential’ to talk about comes with the potential for disappointment too.

The fact that Slot has consistently had Feyenoord in a position to compete for, and win, trophies, is big positive. He has experienced title races, he has felt that pressure, he has been to a European final and felt the weight of expectation and scrutiny. That…