Despite reeling from an unexpected Merseyside Derby defeat on Wednesday, Thursday looks like being a better day for Liverpool.
The Reds are currently pushing hard to get the successor to Jurgen Klopp over the line.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano on Thursday morning, Liverpool are continuing to work with Feyenoord over a deal to take Arne Slot to Anfield.
The 45-year-old has become the leading candidate to be in the dugout next season after impressing FSG. With Slot already said to be looking for houses on Merseyside, his appointment now feels like a matter of time.
Consequently, plenty of opinions have already been shared about the Dutchman, with Jamie Carragher one of the latest to weigh in. But as a former teammate of Slot it’s Carragher’s old Liverpool colleague, Sander Westerveld, who’s opinion may hold more weight.
What has Sander Westerveld said about Arne Slot
Westerveld shared a dressing room with Slot for a season at Sparta Rotterdam back in 2007/08.
And as he spoke to Sky Sports about the Feyenoord boss yesterday, it was clear that the two have remained friends ever since.
But as well as giving some insight into what Liverpool can expect from Slot himself, Westerveld also claimed that the manager’s assistant – Sipke Hulshoff – could be a huge help at Liverpool.
“A big factor I think which also helps is that his first assistant is the first assistant of the national team as well under Ronald Koeman,” said the 49-year-old.
“So, he already worked with Van Dijk and Gravenberch and Gakpo. That will help.”
Will Arne Slot bring Sipke Hulshoff to Liverpool
Obviously, with nothing official at this point, anything written about Slot and Liverpool is still just speculation.
However, it has already been reported that the former AZ Alkmaar manager will indeed be bringing Hulshoff with him to Merseyside.
As Westerveld mentions, this could be a real help to Slot. The 49-year-old has already worked with three Liverpool players for over a year.
It’s no small matter that one of those just so happens to be the club captain, too. Although there are some question marks over Van Dijk’s post-Klopp future, the expectation will be that he’s at Liverpool next season.
His staff being familiar with such an influential player – as well as two more he can build the team around – will no doubt be useful to Slot. It could even be something of a ‘secret weapon.’