Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker says there is a ‘huge challenge’ ahead as Arne Slot prepares to replace Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds will embark on a new era after the German took charge of the club for the final time against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Four months after his bombshell announcement that he would be leaving at the end of the season, Klopp stood on the touchline at Anfield for the last time after nine years.
Slot is set to succeed the 56-year-old after Liverpool reached an agreement with Feyenoord for his services. The Dutchman bid farewell to De Kuip after a successful stint in Rotterdam, with Klopp encouraging the crowd to begin chanting about the soon-to-be manager.
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The Brazilian shot-stopper said work is already underway for the experienced players to keep the standards high in the post-Klopp era, but he admits there is an important period ahead with Slot set to take the reins for next season.
“I think we started already this season, I arrived here as a young goalkeeper but I’m an experienced player now,” said Alisson. “The players on the leadership group had to step up when Hendo and Milly left, the young players stepped up and we had to take more responsibility and be more decisive in games.
“Now we have a huge challenge in front of us, change of manager, we don’t know too much about him but I’m sure he’ll work a lot to put his mentality across.
“He knows we’re the kind of players who want to win trophies, be competitive – nothing is guaranteed in the Premier League, you have to be competitive, you have to be at the top and perform in a way that you can achieve things.”
The goalkeeper lauded Klopp and argued that the German head coach is something more than the normal one. He added: “Jurgen is a special one, he said when he came here he is the normal one but he is the special one for us and the ones who played under him.
“He’s a natural leader, who achieved things, he thinks about the personal side of the players, he wants to do everything to make the players feel good for the team. I have so many good memories, I’m so happy I had the opportunity to work with Jurgen Klopp.”