Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp backed Arne Slot in a glowing recommendation of the Feyenoord head coach who is set to replace him at Anfield next season. Slot has already expressed his desire to make the move to the Premier League, after Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim were ruled out of the running, as the two clubs negotiate a financial package to prise him away from the Dutch outfit.
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Speaking ahead of Feyenoord's upcoming Eredivisie clash with Go Ahead Eagles, Slot admitted that he was keen to join Liverpool as Klopp's successor and was awaiting the clubs to come to an agreement that would allow him to leave for Anfield at the end of the season in a move that could cost the Reds as much as £13million.
Returning chief Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes saw Alonso rule himself out of the position, before cooling any interest in Sporting boss Amorim and deeming Slot their number one target to lead a new era at Anfield.
Klopp has praised his potential replacement's ability as a coach, though admitted that he was not involved in the process of selecting his successor, he is excited about the prospect of the Dutchman in the Reds dugout.
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"I didn't read anything but Arne has said something," Klopp said at his Friday press conference. "I am not involved, club-wise. I would like a lot that if he is the one he wants to take the job and is excited. I like his team's style, all I hear about him as a guy.
"Some people I know tell me. Good coach. All sounds really good to me. Best job and club in the world. And healthy, space for improvement. Fantastic people."
Klopp did warn his squad that they will need to learn from the disappointment in recent performances, suffering a hammer blow against Everton in their bid to send him off with a league title, in order to appeal to the incoming Dutch head coach and go one further next year.
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"Of course I (take responsibility for Merseyside derby defeat)," Klopp continued. "We can mention a lot. Is it possible we are tired? Yes, a long season, players coming back from injuries, Trent (Alexander-Arnold), for example, but we need him. Can he be on top of his game? Probably not. Alisson out for a long time, tough schedule, one or two not in their best moments. But inexperience as well. Did anyone expect us to become champions? No. We have to go to (Aston) Villa and Tottenham and we want Champions League (qualification).
"No one here is happy at all - and Villa are rightly happy - but just to explain how different it is. We cannot say this is good enough. It is but of course we are very disappointed and we cannot change that. The defeat is bad if you don't learn from it The boys have to learn from it next year, with a new manager next season but they can use this. Now let's hope we can use this in the short-term for the next game."
Klopp also confirmed that Diogo Jota and Conor Bradley would not be in contention to return from their injuries against West Ham, but he isn't "in the mood to wave the white flag" and plans to keep pushing Arsenal and Manchester City until the final day of the season.
