Former Liverpool star Michael Owen has hailed Liverpool’s appointment of Arne Slot as the most significant move in the Premier League this summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Anfield marked the end of an era, following nearly nine years at the helm of the Merseyside club.
With Klopp stepping down, many questioned who could fill the enormous shoes left behind.
Slot, however, has risen to the challenge.
His early tenure as Liverpool manager has been nothing short of impressive.
Liverpool’s pre-season under Slot was near-perfect, highlighted by commanding victories over Arsenal and fierce rivals Manchester United.
Their strong start continued with a 2-0 victory on the opening day against Ipswich Town.
Despite these successes, Liverpool have faced challenges in the transfer market.
They remain the only Premier League club yet to make a signing this summer, with high-profile targets such as Anthony Gordon and Martin Zubimendi slipping through their grasp.
However, Owen believes that despite the lack of new players, Liverpool’s most important move was already made by securing Slot from Feyenoord.
Owen regards Slot as the ideal successor to Klopp, ensuring that the Reds remain a formidable force in the league.
He told OLBG: “When you talk about who’s the biggest signing in the Premier League this summer, it’s Arne Slot.
“Slot showed some great signs in pre-season because that game against Manchester United was a big game for him.
“All the eyes were on him, talk about pressure.
“That is the biggest role to fill in the Premier League this summer.
“Jurgen Klopp leaving after all that time, that is the biggest signing and he’s got more pressure on him than anybody else in the Premier League.
“Even though it’s pre-season friendly, because of who it was against, I think that, straight away, Liverpool fans will be quietly excited.
“It’s good early signs and enough to get the crowd really backing you, get that belief, get the players understanding that your standards are high because they need to be high to go and win the Premier League, they need to be super high.”
While Klopp guided Liverpool to two finals in his first season – the League Cup and the Europa League – his side fell short of lifting either trophy.
Additionally, the Reds finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League, despite being in 10th place when Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers in October 2015.
In contrast, Arne Slot, the former Feyenoord manager, hasn’t been afforded the same level of transfer backing Klopp received before his first full season at Anfield.
Klopp’s investment helped Liverpool secure a fourth-place finish and a Champions League spot.
However, expectations for Slot are even higher, as he inherits a much stronger squad than the one Klopp initially worked with.
Slot is now gearing up for Sunday’s match against Brentford, where he will make his Anfield league debut.
The 45-year-old is looking to secure back-to-back wins at the start of his first season in charge.
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