'A thousand questions' - Pep Lijnders on Liverpool's Arne Slot decision and his Mike Gordon advice
Liverpool's outgoing assistant boss Pep Lijnders says Arne Slot has all the tools to be a successful replacement for Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool's outgoing assistant boss Pep Lijnders believes Arne Slot has all the tools to be a successful replacement for Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
And Lijnders has revealed he told Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon that the club needed a young coach to build on what Klopp and the backroom team had started with what was something of a new-look squad last summer.
Slot was confirmed as Klopp's successor on Monday and joins on a three-year deal from Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie in 2023 before lifting the Dutch Cup last month.
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Lijnders revealed that he is friendly with Liverpool's new head coach and says the 45-year-old is well equipped to continue taking the Reds forward.
"I know Arne really well," Lijnders told The Athletic. "He came to my house in Holland about nine years ago. He came to speak to me about football. He drove for a long time to see me and he had a thousand questions. I tried to answer them all!
“Since then, we’ve stayed in close contact. He’s an unbelievable coach, who knows exactly what he wants and has the experience to be at a club like Liverpool.
“There are similarities between Feyenoord and Liverpool. Their fans are so passionate. They also sing You’ll Never Walk Alone."
Lijnders adds: “You need a coach like Arne who is close to what we tried to do over the years, in terms of having the ball in the opposition half, pressing, counter-pressing - he’s very strategic in that point of view. He’s made good steps and now it’s the chance for him to make another big step.
“When I spoke with Mike (Gordon) and Jurgen, I said you need a young coach who can grow with this new team. Arne has everything in him to be a success here.”