Jurgen Klopp kept doing something at Liverpool that staff didn’t like, Arne Slot has changed it

Arne Slot has never tried to be anything other than himself since taking over as Liverpool head coach in June 2024.

The Dutchman had one of the hardest tasks in modern football at the time, replacing a man who had come to embody the whole football club: Jurgen Klopp.

But though it may have been tempting to either paint himself as the natural heir to Klopp or as someone desperately opposite to the German, Slot really did neither.

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Instead, he was authentic right from the start. Authenticity goes a long way at Liverpool and if it is something you claim but then lack, supporters will see through it.

So too will staff at the Liverpool training ground; normal, hard-working people who are not there to have frustrations taken out on. According to journalist David Lynch, this was occasionally something Klopp fell foul of, which Slot has since corrected.

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The one major difference between Klopp and Slot as characters is the explosiveness which sometimes escaped the German. He was as passionate and ebullient as football managers come.

At times, this got him in trouble with opposition managers and – mainly – referees. But according to Lynch, it also meant Klopp got on the wrong side of the staff at Kirkby at times.

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“I think what one of the things that the players did like [with Slot] as well, and this not just the players actually, it was the wider staff at Kirkby as well,” the journalist told Anfield Index.

“When that change [Slot coming in for Klopp] got made, you know Jurgen towards the end particularly could be quite prickly and forceful, particularly with the staff. Maybe not as avuncular with the people outside of the playing staff, and that rubbed people up the wrong way.

“Slot is much more calm, even though he can be direct and honest he’s much more calm, maybe in the way that he delivers that and the way he accepts setbacks as well, so there’s a difference.”

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Some anger would not go amiss from Arne Slot

Although it is often far better to be calm in any given situation, especially in a figurehead position such as being in charge at a club like Liverpool, there are occasions when some passion does not go amiss.

Despite some frustrations from staff, this was part of what made Klopp so good. He was happy and jovial when he needed to be, but he could also bring the hammer down at times.

With Liverpool somewhat sleepwalking through the season so far, some of Jurgen’s trademark enthusiasm has been badly missing.

At times Slot looks completely passive on the touchline, and is no doubt the same behind closed doors too.

So, while staff are clearly pleased to not have to be on the end of a rare Klopp rocket, we wouldn’t mind to see a little more anger from Arne when appropriate.

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