Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has stated Arne Slot “may very well be a Liverpool coach” resulting from his taking part in type and philosophy.
Slot, who gained the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup final weekend, is the frontrunner to take cost of Liverpool subsequent season.
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Talking after the 2-0 defeat in opposition to Everton within the Merseyside derby, a loss that has left put a serious dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes, Van Dijk stated that Slot has the credentials to interchange Jürgen Klopp at Anfield.
“I discover it tough to reply it now, after all,” Van Dijk instructed Viaplay. “However I believe Arne Slot is likely to be one of many higher Dutch coaches at this second.
“I believe the best way he performs and the philosophy he has that he may very well be a Liverpool coach. Solely in my view, what I additionally learn and listen to, after all, is that it’s removed from finalised.
“We’ll see. Subsequent yr we’ll concentrate on that.”
Sources instructed ESPN on Wednesday that Liverpool have opened talks with Feyenoord in an try to barter a deal for the membership’s head coach Slot.
The 45-year-old has emerged because the main contender for the Liverpool job following Xabi Alonso’s choice to stay at Bayer Leverkusen and a cooling within the Premier League membership’s curiosity in Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim.
Slot rejected approaches from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur final yr — Chelsea additionally expressed an curiosity in him — and selected as an alternative to signal a brand new three-year contract with the Rotterdam staff.
Van Dijk was additionally outspoken in regards to the efficiency of his Liverpool teammates in opposition to Everton.
“Do they actually wish to win the league?” Van Dijk stated. “If you happen to play like this total within the recreation and never win any challenges and provides the referee a possibility to provide a free kick away then we’ve got no probability to win the title.
“[I am] very upset in so some ways. Everybody has to look within the mirror and have a look at their very own efficiency and assume in the event that they gave every little thing.
“It’s a robust one and clearly we’ve got to do higher in opposition to a aspect close to the relegation [positions]. If you happen to play like as we speak we’ve got no probability to contemplate ourselves within the title race.”
