Jurgen Klopp set for Liverpool reunion with Arne Slot as former bosses on collision course

Former Liverpool boss Arne Slot could be set to face off against fellow Anfield alumnus Jurgen Klopp in a completely new arena

Former Liverpool managers Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot could be on a collision course away from Merseyside this September. Julian Nagelsmann's departure as Germany boss has opened the door for Klopp's long-awaited return to the dugout, with the 59-year-old reportedly agreeing to take charge of Die Mannschaft.

The German FA has turned to the ex-Reds chief to help rebuild the national side following another dismal World Cup campaign. The country is looking to reclaim its place among the international heavyweights after being bounced out of this year's competition by Paraguay.

Slot, who succeeded Klopp at Anfield, now appears to be treading a familiar path. It's reported the former Feyenoord boss is in talks to replace Ronald Koeman as the new Netherlands national team boss after they too made a premature exit in North America.

Koeman stepped down on June 30 after the Oranje were dumped out of the World Cup in the last 32 following a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco. Slot is reportedly positioning himself to succeed his fellow Dutchman and guide the Netherlands to their first major international honour since Euro 1988.

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He was relieved of his duties at Anfield on May 30, bringing the curtain down on a rollercoaster spell on Merseyside. Despite delivering the club's 20th league title in his first season in charge, a dismal second campaign, in which the side lost an unprecedented 20 matches across all competitions, ultimately sealed his fate.

As a result, Slot has now seemingly turned his attention towards international coaching. Should he succeed Koeman as the Oranje's head coach, his first match in charge would pit him against none other than Germany, who look set to have Klopp in charge by then.

The European giants are due to face off in the Nations League on September 24 in a fixture that could see the pair lock horns for the first time. Klopp warmly backed Slot as his replacement in the build-up to his Merseyside exit, describing him as a "good guy" and praising the Dutchman's attacking philosophy.

Slot certainly wasted no time making his mark at Anfield, posting the highest win rate of any manager in the club's storied history during his debut campaign. Following the Premier League triumph, Slot paid generous tribute to his predecessor, acknowledging his achievements were built upon Klopp's "outstanding" foundations.

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"So many moments in the season the two of us have had contact. I think he showed last season what a wonderful human being he is by introducing me," Slot said at the time. "But what mattered most is the team he left behind that was able to win the trophy."

The Dutchman added: "The work Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders] did, the culture, work-rate, quality, was outstanding."

Slot's second campaign in charge proved far less fruitful. They suffered 12 Premier League defeats and scraped over the finish line to secure Champions League football on the final day of the season, just six days before Slot's departure.

This underwhelming season allowed Klopp to reclaim his position as the manager with the superior win percentage. His win record stands at 62.6 per cent compared to Slot's slightly less impressive 55.3 per cent.

Football appears to be at a turning point for both Germany and the Netherlands, with neither side currently able to count themselves among the world's best. Yet in former Liverpool managers Klopp and Slot, perhaps both nations have unearthed the right men to guide them back to the summit.