Huge behind-the-scenes Liverpool shakeup will now help Slot, says McManaman

It’s all change at the very top of Liverpool Football Club with Arne Slot coming in to succeed Jurgen Klopp.

The German tactician gave the Reds’ hierarchy plenty of time to identify a replacement after announcing his exit back in January (having first informed FSG chiefs in November).

Steve McManaman has pointed to the return of key figures behind the Dutchman – in Michael Edwards and Julian Ward – as a point of reassurance for the incoming boss.

“[Success] would be anything like this year to be honest,” the former Red told TNT Sports.

“They should be fighting at the top of the table and battling for all kinds of trophies. I love Jurgen and I think he’s an incredible manager but I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure on Arne Slot.

“The players are still brilliant, nobody’s leaving apart from [Joel] Matip and Thiago. Michael Edwards is back, Julian Ward is back, Richard Hughes is back and they’re going to sit above Arne Slot. They’ve already been at work identifying players.

Slot officially begins work as Liverpool’s head coach on June 1.