Liverpool find Klopp successor or Ten Hag 2.0?

Liverpool have reportedly identified a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp, who is set to depart the club in June. The question is: Will he be successful or follow in the gloomy steps of under-performing rivals Manchester United under Erik ten Hag?

What's the story? 

The Merseyside club is said to have made direct contact with current Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, who is believed to have become the Reds' leading candidate to replace the German tactician in the Anfield dugout. 

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According to Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy, Liverpool want the Dutch tactician because of his recent accolades. 

"Because of how much he has achieved in a short space of time, that made him an outlier – somebody you don't need to follow the rules for.

"They [Liverpool] have accepted that he is a very strong option to replace Klopp. He does meet all the club's criteria and the only reason it isn't a foregone conclusion is because Feyenoord desperately want to keep him and there are other European clubs looking at him." 

The reporter then went on to list the criteria on which the 19-time English top-flight champions are said to have based their decision. 

"It's the way he transformed Feyenoord's style, they're very full-throttle, aggressive, they're adept at turning defence into attack, they actually have the best defence in the Eredivisie and the second-best attacking metrics," Reddy continued.

"So, [they are a] very good team, exemplary at the counter-press. When you look at how they play and the similarities with Liverpool, also his preferred formations. He uses the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-3-3 quite heavily, just like Liverpool. You could see the symmetry there and how he would fit in. Then there's also the matter of success." 

The Ten Hag comparison 

Besides their shining, hairless heads, the pair have quite similar backgrounds. Like his compatriot, Slot started his coaching career as a youth coach, but while the current United boss coached FC Twente at U17 and U19 level, the EPL-linked manager began his coaching career at Dutch side PEC Zwolle. They also both had stints at assistant managers at various clubs before really making their names and growing their reputations at Eredivisie sides. 

In terms of achievements, Slot became a league winner when his side clinched the title last season, the club's first since 2017. In this campaign, he has led the Pride of Rotterdam to KNVB Cup glory, but that is as decorated as his trophy cabinet gets as a manager to date. Ten Hag, who became Ajax's head coach in 2017, won the Eredivisie on three occasions, as well as two KNVB Cups. In fact, the current Red Devils boss did the domestic double in his second season at the club. It goes to show that success in the Netherlands does not necessarily translate to immediate success in England. 

At a tactical level, the pair do share some similarities based on their time at the Dutch club. Both managers prefer the 4-2-3-1/ 4-3-3 formation and a focus on pressing from the front, winning the ball in dangerous areas to quickly create scoring opportunities, and turning defence into attack in rapid fashion. This is also what his compatriot displayed at Ajax. However, Ten Hag has not been able to fully implement that philosophy in the EPL.  

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What the Reds should be excited by

What some consider to be a crucial difference between the two managers at a tactical level is Slot's implementation of a double pivot (a midfield pairing). This is something Ten Hag has not fully implemented in the current campaign as a player being used as a single pivot can often be seen whilst United are in possession, leaving the side susceptible to counter-attacks and possessing less of the ball, which has been the case. Slot, on the other hand, seems to place an emphasis on controlling the game and playing stylish football too.

While their footballing philosophies may be similar, their implementations of it are different. What fans of the Merseyside club could also get excited by is the tactician's winning mentality, as evidenced in a speech he gave his players during their league-winning campaign, which you can watch below. 

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