Liverpool avoids Man Utd and Arsenal mistake as Reds legend spots Arne Slot change

John Barnes is of the opinion that Arne Slot has taken over an outstanding team at Liverpool - and they're not letting up. The Dutchman stepped into Jurgen Klopp's shoes earlier this year, after the German's triumphant nine-year stint at Anfield.

Klopp didn't just guide the Reds to their first Premier League title in the 2019/20 season, but also bagged two League Cups, an FA Cup and a Champions League. It appears his influence is still being felt by new gaffer Slot, who has already enjoyed early victories in the Premier League and Champions League.

Liverpool started the new season with a 2-0 away win, followed by a triumph over Brentford on home turf. A fiery clash with Manchester United saw Liverpool embarrass their rivals with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

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However, Slot experienced his first loss of the season against Nottingham Forest after the international break.

Yet it seemed to be just a minor hiccup as Liverpool rebounded 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 tenure at Liverpool are playing a significant role in Slot's recent successes - because they're not taking it easy following their former manager's departure.

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

Barnes recently appeared on 'The Rest Is Football' podcast with Gary Lineker to talk about the future of Liverpool and life after the Klopp era. Lineker in the chat mentioned, "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?"

In response, Barnes expressed his optimism: "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."

Barnes also touched upon the issues clubs face when iconic managers leave, saying, "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."