Arne Slot exclusive: The Liverpool manager shares his stylistic inspirations following a record-setting beginning.

Liverpool’s Arne Slot: No Idols, Just Inspiration

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made it clear that he does not have any managerial idols. However, he admits to occasionally “borrowing” ideas from his rivals. Since taking the reins at Anfield this summer, Slot has enjoyed a remarkable start, guiding the Reds to five consecutive victories. The only blemish on his record so far is a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at home.

As Liverpool currently sits atop the Premier League table, they are set to face Crystal Palace this Saturday. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

In an interview with TNT Sports ahead of the early kick-off, Slot elaborated on his approach to management. He stated, “That’s not how it works. If you play football, you don’t look up to other players. You can enjoy what they do and how well they play, and that’s the same for managers. In modern football, there are many managers whose teams play really good football, and we can all name them.”

He continued, “I don’t look up to anyone in particular because I’m not in that position. It would be a bit strange as well. That’s not to say you can’t learn or enjoy other teams, and it’s not a bad idea to steal a few things once in a while, which is why we watch a lot of football.”

A Nod to Dutch Greatness

While Slot may not idolize any current managers, he did acknowledge the impact of Dutch football legend Marco van Basten. The former Ajax and AC Milan star, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in history, was a significant influence on Slot during his formative years.

“Maybe not look up to, but when I was playing at five, six, seven years old, you always want to be someone. I come from the Netherlands, and for me, that was Marco van Basten,” Slot reflected. “He was one of my heroes, especially since we only won one tournament in our history, and he was a big factor in that. Back then, I was 10, and he was certainly someone I wanted to be when I was young.”

Slot went on to mention other footballing greats who have inspired him, including Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Mo Salah, all of whom he finds a joy to watch.

A Manager in the Making

Discussing his own journey into management, Slot suggested that his path may have been shaped by his father’s influence. “When I was quite young, I trained under-sevens, under-eights, under-nines from my former amateur club,” he explained. “My father was also a manager at amateur level, and he worked in a school. The good thing about being a teacher is you get lots of holidays. When he was on holiday, he would ask, ‘Can you replace me as a manager at my amateur club?’”

Slot added, “By the time I was 21 or 22, I was already doing these kinds of things, and all my teammates from my club would probably say they were not surprised I became a manager. So, probably from quite a young age, I was destined for this role.”

As Liverpool prepares to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Saturday lunchtime, Slot will be aiming to secure his ninth win from ten matches in all competitions as the Reds continue their pursuit of glory.

How to Watch Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool

Fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports, which is available across all major TV platforms. The channel offers a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, 2, 3, and 4) along with several digital or red-button channels.

Coverage of Southampton vs. Manchester United will begin on TNT Sports 1 at 11:00 UK time, ahead of the kick-off at 12:30. Subscriptions to TNT Sports can be made through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

For those looking to watch the match in local establishments, the Pub Finder tool can help locate venues showing TNT Sports.