Liverpool are about to enter a new era as Jurgen Klopp’s walks away from the club.
The Klopp years have been glorious, thrilling and above all trophy-laden. Liverpool fans have had the time of their lives under the German.
It’s going to be difficult for anyone to match what Klopp has brought to Anfield. But Arne Slot is the man who’s going to have to try.
There is of course plenty of big benefits to taking the Liverpool job right now. Klopp has brought the Reds back to a good place this season. However, it’s fair to say that stepping into Jurgen’s shoes is also a hugely daunting task, too.
Thankfully for Slot though, it isn’t just the position Liverpool find themselves in which gives him an immediate advantage. Klopp has also left him with one player who could be about to make all the difference.
Stefan Bajcetic can hand the ideal welcome to Arne Slot
Obviously, there are plenty of the Liverpool first-team squad who Slot will be champing at the bit to work with.
The Dutch coach has managed some very good players at Feyenoord, but the Reds’ stars are on a completely different level.
Forgetting the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah for a second though, and it’s worth pointing out that Klopp has also left Slot with a group of hugely talented young players.
Although he hasn’t been able to show it this season, perhaps the most exciting of these prospects is 19-year-old Stefan Bajcetic.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT on Thursday, Bajcetic has been compeltely backed by Klopp throughout his arduous injury rehab this year.
They claim that the manager himself and Liverpool as a club have given all the support and time needed for Bajcetic to get back to full fitness. Klopp will not be there to see the benefits of this patience and hard work, but Slot will.
Stefan Bajcetic can solve Liverpool problem
Part of the reason Liverpool couldn’t quite go all the way this season was because of the lack of a top quality defensive midfielder.
That’s not to do Wataru Endo down. The Japan captain has had a good season, surprising people in the process. But he doesn’t have what it takes to be a starter for Liverpool in the long run.
As a result, you can imagine Slot watching the Reds of late and pondering the solution to that problem.
Luckily for him, Klopp has got Bajcetic to the point where he should be ready to hit the ground running in pre-season. The 56-year-old’s careful management of the Spaniard should hopefully mean that Slot can straight away get Bajcetic back to speed.
Get him out on the pitch in pre-season, and we’re certain that the former Celta Vigo prospect will show that he can step up in Slot’s debut campaign. The perfect gift from old manager to new.