Liverpool players pay Slot great respect by not making Man Utd & Arsenal mistake

John Barnes believes that Arne Slot has inherited an exceptional squad at Liverpool - and they haven't taken their foot off the gas. The Dutchman took over from Jurgen Klopp earlier this year, following the German's successful nine-year reign at Anfield. Klopp not only led the Reds to their first Premier League title in the 2019/20 season but also secured two League Cups, an FA Cup and a Champions League. It seems his influence is still felt by new boss Slot, who has already tasted early success in the Premier League and Champions League. Liverpool kicked off the new campaign with a 2-0 away win, followed by a victory over Brentford at home. A heated match with Manchester United saw Liverpool humiliate their rivals with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford. However Slot suffered his first defeat of the season against Nottingham Forest after the international break.

Nevertheless it seemed to be just a minor setback as Liverpool bounced back with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the European Cup, as well as a convincing 3-0 win against Bournemouth. Barnes believes that the players Klopp brought in during his time at Liverpool are playing a significant role in Slot's recent successes - because they are not relaxing following their former manager's departure.

Manchester United and Arsenal both suffered drop-offs when their illustrious long-term managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger departed, but Liverpool are showing little sign of doing the same in the post-Klopp era.

Barnes recently joined Gary Lineker on his podcast 'The Rest Is Football' to discuss Liverpool's prospects and life after Klopp. The Match of the Day frontman, said: "Where do you see this current Liverpool team? Obviously it's post-Klopp, we all thought it would be an incredibly difficult act to follow - and it will be - but he's made a really good start Arne Slot hasn't he?"

Barnes replied: "Not only has he made a good start, I was with him in pre-season in America and even in America - just sort of going around the plane with all the analysts that we had on the plane, and they're now having a new way of playing. Playing around Ryan Gravenberch as a number six, it's a bit like playing [Andrea] Pirlo in a number six.

"A different type of player but more attacking, more comfortable on the ball rather than a strong defensive-midfield player. So therefore, the players have bought into what he's trying to do. Plus the fact that we've still got on the counter attack, and in transition, pace and power up front.

"So we're playing off a slower build-up, many more passes from the back, but in transition, when we have to go forward. And the players have bought into it. We've seen when Fergie left, we've seen when [Arsene] Wenger left, we've seen when [Jose] Mourinho left big clubs, who clubs don't do as well because the players relax - the big man has gone.

"Liverpool players haven't done that. The Liverpool players that Jurgen Klopp signed were good characters enough to know 'Oh you're not here any more but we have to respect the club, the traditions, the fans and the new manager - we do what you say' because it's a completely different way of playing.

"And they haven't thrown their dummy out the pram, and it suits players more like Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones - these ball players, whereas Jurgen's midfield had Fabinho, [James] Milner, [Jordan] Henderson. They're now free ball-playing midfielders so they're better in possession, but they still have that transition going forward so it's happy days."