Liverpool manager Arne Slot not nervous ahead of Anfield debut

LONDON – Arne Slot will make his first appearance at Anfield as Liverpool manager on Aug 25 when his team host Brentford, and he has claimed that there will be no nerves at all.

The Reds kicked off the Slot era in style with a 2-0 English Premier League win at Ipswich Town last weekend, their first competitive match without Jurgen Klopp at the helm in nine years.

The Dutchman has big shoes to fill in replacing the much-loved Klopp, but he is prepared.

“I’m hoping the fans can be twice as loud as the Ipswich fans. I am not nervous at all, certainly not at this moment because I’m in the middle of preparation, prepare the team for Sunday and no nerves,” Slot said on Aug 23.

“It wouldn’t be a good thing if you have nerves. I trust what me and my staff do to prepare in the best possible way.”

The 45-year-old knows that he still has plenty to learn about his players.

“I’m learning every day about the players as individuals and how they play together,” he added. “I am still learning new things with the players. It is normal, I have only worked with them for three weeks.”

He also said he was relaxed about his new club’s lack of transfer activity after inheriting a “very good team” at Anfield.

Liverpool are the only side in the English top flight yet to make a single signing in the window.

Spain international Martin Zubimendi rejected the opportunity to leave Real Sociedad, while a deal for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is reportedly close that would see him stay at the Mestalla this season on loan.

“I trust the team,” reiterated Slot on why he is not stressing about the lack of new signings. “I’ve said before, I have inherited a very good team, with young players. We trust them a lot. They proved that they have earned our trust.”

The Reds’ window has been more dominated by sales.

Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho have joined Brentford for a combined fee of close to £50 million (S$85.9 million), while Bobby Clark has joined Red Bull Salzburg.

England defender Joe Gomez has also been linked with a move away before the transfer deadline in a week’s time.

The 27-year-old appears to have fallen down to fourth-choice centre-back but Slot is keen for him to stay put.

“At this moment I am expecting everyone to be here. (But) everything can change,” said the former Feyenoord boss.

“He didn’t play a lot in the Euro and when he came back in the first sessions he couldn’t train the whole session, so we had to manage his load and that was also a bit (of) a reason why he wasn’t in the team on Saturday.

“But this week he had a good week in terms of load and how much he could do with the team. He is one of the players that I see new things from and learn things in what I see from him.”

With defenders van den Berg and Carvalho having moved to Brentford, Slot is expecting a stiff challenge from the Bees.

“I think they’ve brought in talented and good players. Both of them wanted to continue their journey of playing time, It was a good deal for us and Brentford,” he said.

“Hopefully, they don’t do too well (against Liverpool). (Manager) Thomas Frank is doing a really good job. It's going to be a challenge for us."

Brentford kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend.

“Very, very happy that we managed to sign Sepp van den Berg,” Frank said.

“I think he is a great player with an even bigger potential. I think it is a statement that players want to come to us over other top clubs because we have a fantastic environment, we have a good team, good club and we are growing.”
REUTERS, AFP