Arne Slot hasn’t exactly made Liverpool forget Jurgen Klopp, but the new boss has done brilliantly to forge his own path in the wake of such a legend. Even so, Harvey Elliott has made his enduring affection for the old manager clear.
It seemed impossible that Slot would be able to do much more than compete for the Champions League places, especially after such a quiet transfer window. Klopp had seemingly squeezed every last drop from the squad in his farewell season, and it was ultimately not enough to keep pace with Manchester City and Arsenal.
Yet Liverpool stands on the brink of claiming the Premier League title — partly thanks to the collapse of these rivals, admittedly, but Slot is also on track to surpass 90 points, enough to place in the top 10 best totals of all time. That’s not to say he is suddenly better than Klopp, but FSG have seen enough to be very smug about their succession decision.
There have certainly been some big winners from the change in management. Ryan Gravenberch never looked truly settled under Klopp, but has become an integral figure under Slot.
Likewise, Cody Gakpo has been restored to his favored position on the left wing, and looks much better for it. His lack of full fitness was a real blow in the recent defeats to PSG and Newcastle.
But one player who has seen his status diminish is Elliott. Though he has been the consummate professional under Slot despite reduced opportunities, perhaps it’s little wonder that he still speaks of Klopp in glowing terms.
“I’m surprised there isn’t a statue of him yet,” Elliott told Amazon Prime. “You know he’s built the team up, won so many things, and he has that legacy which I think will live forever, for many, many years, until I’m even dead it will go on.
“And he deserves it, what he’s done to this team, the way he’s built it up and made it like a family. The players, the fans, everyone in this building, or even around the world, everyone feels together, and that’s because of him.
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“You know, the way he is as a person, and the way he handles everything that comes his way… He’s a legend in my eyes, and he will be a legend of this club forever. Now it’s like you look back on these times and in the moment you don’t really think about these things becasue as a player it’s always about the next game, you can’t get too overwhelmed with these situations. But looking back, as I say, he’s a legend.” There would be few arguments with any of this from the Liverpool faithful. If any modern figure deserves a statue, it is indeed Klopp.
And Elliott is certainly not moping or pining for the old days — there is no implied criticism of Slot within his remarks. He is a boyhood fan of Liverpool, and his glowing comments on Klopp come more from this perspective than that of a player who got his own breakthrough under the German.
Yet there’s no doubt that the faith he afforded young players will form a big part of Klopp’s legacy. Few would have trusted Elliott so young, and even fewer would have got him right back on track after a leg break.
On paper, at least, Slot has been set up for years to come with the likes of Elliott, Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley, not to mention even younger talents like Jayden Danns and Trey Nyoni, each of whom were given their first taste of action under Klopp. Perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised at the smooth transition.
Quite why Elliott is yet to fully win over Slot is a mystery. But regardless of what comes next, the youngster will never forget the privilege of being an integral part of the Klopp era — an era that turned Liverpool Football Club around, and laid the groundwork which is already reaping rewards.
