Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot at the club’s training facility. — Photo courtesy of Liverpool FC

Paul Kennedy

New Liverpool FC head coach Arne Slot gave his first interview to the club’s official channel this week, and as you would expect, said all the right things.

As it was managed ‘in-house’ there were obviously no tough questions or curve balls thrown in his direction.

Once he’s settled, I’m sure he will face much, much harder questions from the media, but for now, it was easy street for Arne.

He ended the interview by saying: “There is a change but the change hopefully isn't that big, because we still have the same players, we still have the same fans – and if the both of them are going to do the same job, that will make my life a lot more easy!”

He’s not wrong at all, and while as a Liverpool supporter I wish him nothing but success, I do think he has a tough job on his hands.

Aside from the fact that he has massive shoes to fill in replacing Jurgen Klopp, and Liverpool supporters have come to expect at the very least a strong challenge, other teams chasing Manchester City will improve.

Arsenal last season came close to upsetting City’s apple cart, and Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle will all no doubt splash the cash before the season starts.

Plus there’s the small matter of Mohammed Salah.

The Egyptian has just a year left on his contract and teams from Saudi are circling like vultures ready to offer oodles of cash to prize him away from Anfield.

Virgil van Dijk is another who is nearing the end of his contract, and so is Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain and vice-captain respectively.

Although to be honest, I’m more confident Virg and Trent will put pen to paper than Salah. Only time will tell.

There’s also another elephant in the room that needs addressing.

While Slot has done well managing Feyenoord in Holland, it is, after all, only Holland. The Premier League is a much different beast.

Games are faster, opponents tougher and the quality of football much, much higher than what Slot is used to from his time in the Eredivisie.

Pressure will pile up on him.

His first real match as Liverpool boss will be away at Premier League new boys Ipswich. A match, on paper, you’d expect the Reds to win at a canter.

If they do, Slot will have gotten off to the perfect start, if not… then the first of many, many tough questions will start to be asked. VNS