“He’s definitely the man for the job. He’s going to get the job done for sure. He’ll be able to utilize these players to their fullest potential” – Liverpool has reportedly been assured by Michael Owen that Arne Slot will guide them to Premier League victory in his first year in charge, with expectations that two key players will flourish under his new tactical approach.

A Dutch football icon has endorsed Arne Slot’s potential to secure the Premier League title for Liverpool in his debut season, while predicting that two players who struggled under Jurgen Klopp will thrive under Slot’s implementation of ‘Total Football’.

Slot, 45, is poised to take over as Liverpool manager this summer, departing Feyenoord after leading them to the Eredivisie championship last season and securing the Dutch Cup this year.

Liverpool is reportedly set to pay Feyenoord €9m plus €2m in add-ons for Slot’s services, with additional expenses expected for Slot’s coaching staff, potentially amounting to €13-€15m, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Replacing Klopp poses a significant challenge, but Dutch football legend Johnny Rep believes Slot is up to the task.

Rep, who earned 42 caps for the Netherlands and holds the record for the country’s most goals in World Cups, expressed confidence in Slot’s ability to fill Klopp’s shoes and even suggested that Liverpool could clinch their 20th league title in Slot’s inaugural season.

“Arne has the qualities to step into Klopp’s big shoes, and it’s conceivable that he could win the Premier League in his first year,” said Rep.

“Arne has achieved remarkable success at Feyenoord, claiming both the league and cup titles, and I anticipate similar accomplishments at Liverpool.

He possesses all the attributes needed to manage a club as prestigious as Liverpool because he’s simply a fantastic coach.”

Slot is known for employing a 4-2-3-1 formation, which aligns with Klopp’s tactical approach, ensuring a smooth transition between managers.

His Feyenoord team emphasizes a high line, intense pressing, and attacking prowess, resembling the style Liverpool fans are familiar with.

However, Rep suggests that Slot’s football philosophy is rooted in Johan Cruyff’s ‘Total Football’ ideology, hinting at a more expansive and dynamic style.

Moreover, Rep believes that Dutch duo Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo will flourish under Slot’s guidance.

Gravenberch has struggled in his debut season at Liverpool, while Gakpo has not lived up to expectations since joining from PSV Eindhoven. Rep anticipates improvement from both players under Slot’s tutelage.

“Arne was influenced by Johan Cruyff’s Total Football and prefers to set his teams up with an attacking mindset,” explained Rep.

“While his focus is on offensive play, his teams also excel defensively. He will elevate the performances of Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch and may bring along some Feyenoord players with him.”

One player linked with a potential move from Feyenoord to Liverpool is right-back Lutsharel Geertruida, who reportedly attended Liverpool’s recent match against West Ham following the agreement between the two clubs regarding Slot’s compensation.