Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman anticipates a smooth changeover for Arne Slot at Anfield as he steps in for Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool legend Steve McManaman has expressed confidence in Arne Slot’s ability to seamlessly transition into the role of manager at Anfield next season. Slot, who recently signed a three-year contract with the club, will be replacing Jurgen Klopp, who led Liverpool to numerous successes including their first Premier League title in 2020 and their sixth European Cup triumph in 2019.

Despite the daunting task of following in Klopp’s footsteps, McManaman believes that Slot won’t face too many difficulties in his debut campaign. “[Success] would be anything like this year to be honest,” McManaman stated. He also highlighted that the team is still strong, with only Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara expected to leave. The return of key personnel such as sporting director Michael Edwards and the identification of potential new signings further contribute to a smooth transition.

McManaman drew comparisons to Manchester United’s struggles after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, but he believes that Liverpool have laid down the foundations for Slot to have an easier time than Ferguson’s successors. He emphasized that the team is in a healthy position, with the only concerns being the contract situations of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Regarding Salah, McManaman expressed confidence that the Egyptian forward can bounce back from a disappointing end to the season. Despite suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty, Salah still managed to score 25 goals and provide 13 assists in all competitions. McManaman believes that Salah will stay at Anfield and perform well next season, attributing his recent struggles to the injury and the toll of the Africa Cup of Nations.

McManaman also expects improvement from Darwin Nunez, who had an underwhelming campaign in front of goal. The Uruguayan striker scored 18 goals but missed crucial chances during the latter stages of the season. McManaman hopes that Nunez will stay at the club, work hard on his game, and improve his finishing skills. He also suggested that Nunez could seek advice from fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez to further enhance his development.