Arne Slot is not a name that most Liverpool fans will know a huge amount about. But the 45-year-old is a leading contender to take over from Jürgen Klopp at Anfield.
With an attack-minded, high-intensity playing style and a track record of getting the most out of his resources, Slot has impressed the Liverpool hierarchy. And his record in the Eredivisie, where he won the title last season, is also exceptional.
But what might Liverpool look like if Slot does take over? The Reds squad looks well-suited to the system that he uses at the moment, where the principles are broadly similar to what Klopp and his staff have instilled.
READ MORE: Arne Slot already had say on Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool and hinted at next move
READ MORE: Liverpool may be set to pile pressure on Pep Guardiola as Man City disadvantage clear
Feyenoord mainly uses a 4-2-3-1 system, which is subtly different from how Liverpool sets up. Klopp uses one number six (Wataru Endō or Alexis Mac Allister) where Slot usually goes with a double pivot, though the Dutchman could adapt.
Who could benefit most if he does go with a double pivot? Mac Allister played in that role for Brighton (and has for Argentina) and it could suit Ryan Gravenberch too. He was used to playing in that way for Ajax and Bayern Munich.
Endō might benefit from having someone alongside him as well when the Japanese plays there. His energy levels have been good this season but the older he gets, the more help he might end up needing.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones might suit playing wide (or as a number 10) in a 4-2-3-1 system, and Dominik Szoboszlai could do that comfortably as well. But there would be a question mark with those three when you factor in the attacking options that Slot would have to work with. Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz would have to play wide.
Ultimately, one of the appealing factors with Slot would be that his system would not be massively different from how Liverpool plays now. Considering the number of midfield options that the Reds have, he could reconfigure that part of the pitch within his attacking masterplan to fit more of them in.
Or Slot could have four out of five senior forwards on the pitch in an ultra-attacking version of the formation that he currently favors. Both options would be on the table without changing much from what he does in the Netherlands at the moment.
There would still be questions about how certain positions change from the Klopp era. Most notably, what would Slot want Trent Alexander-Arnold to do? He could easily play as part of a midfield pivot, but he basically does that anyway at the moment from full-back, giving Liverpool an additional option in possession.
But broadly speaking, the attacking concepts and the full-throttle counter-press would continue. It would be the specifics of each role that needed to be worked out rather than a complete redesign of the set-up — and much less disruptive, for example, than moving to a back three, for instance.
