Jurgen Klopp had faith that Arne Slot would make an immediate impact at Liverpool – even before the Dutchman was officially announced as his successor.
The German bid a heartfelt farewell to Anfield in May earlier this year, marking the end of the 2023/24 season and his remarkable nine-year stint with the Premier League titans.
Speaking directly to the fans after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Wolves in the season’s final match, the 57-year-old reassured supporters that change can be a positive thing.
He conceded that success was there for the taking for the incoming manager, given the wealth of talent he was about to inherit at Liverpool. “Change is good, you just never know what to expect,” Klopp told the 60,059 fans gathered at Anfield.
“But if you approach it with the right attitude then everything will be fine, the right foundation is 100 per cent there,” Klopp insisted. “That’s the team and the new coach, manager. Imagine the next season starts and you’re not waiting to see what happens, no, you dive headfirst into it! You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You give it your all from day one!”
As the video of Klopp’s speech resurfaced on social media, fans had their say on the German’s prediction. One user wrote: “Reminiscent of Shanks handing over to Paisley, brought a tear to my eyes”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Another agreed with their sentiments, commenting: “He was always right even when he said it. He told us to keep believing and it seems like I’m the only one who did. I always expected us to challenge for the league this season.”
Although Slot had not been officially named as Klopp’s replacement at that moment, it didn’t hinder the energetic manager from leading cheers for the Dutchman, with a thrilled Anfield crowd echoing his chants.
Klopp’s predictions could not have been more accurate, as Slot has enjoyed an impeccable beginning on Merseyside with Liverpool sitting proudly atop both the Premier League and Champions League standings. The 46-year-old’s team have tasted defeat only once across all tournaments this term, with the singular loss dealt by Nottingham Forest back in September.
Sunday’s emphatic 6-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur sealed Liverpool’s spot as the Premier League leaders for Christmas – a mantle they’ve carried since early November.
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