Arne Slot says new Liverpool coach gave up his holidays to join up early for pre-season

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It isn’t just Liverpool players who are having to get used to Arne Slot’s coaching methods this summer.

The available members of the Reds squad have been working with Slot all week as they attempt to impress the new boss.

Some Liverpool players have been left exhausted by the Dutchman’s intensive fitness regime, but it will no doubt be good for them in the long run.

After nine years or so of Jurgen Klopp and his coaching team, it will be a huge change for the Liverpool squad. However, it will arguably be an even bigger one for staff at the AXA Training Centre.

Although seven members of the Liverpool backroom team left along with Klopp, others remained. They have formed a mish-mash of old and new coaches in Kirkby.

Arne Slot impressed by Fabian Otte decision

The most key positions at the AXA have all needed filling this summer. Head coach, assistant manager, first-team coach, goalkeeping coach, head of conditioning. They have all been replaced.

The work isn’t quite finished yet, though. Liverpool were looking for two more coaches to complete the new-look team. Aaron Briggs has come in as one of those, but the Reds still need another.

In our opinion, Liverpool should hire Dirk Kuyt as one of Slot’s new right-hand men. But let’s see if that’s an idea that gets off the ground.

In the meantime, the likes of Sipke Hulshoff, Fabian Otte and Ruben Peeters have already got down to work. New goalkeeping coach Otte comes with a big reputation and he’s already ingratiated himself to Slot.

READ MORE: Liverpool told why new head of conditioning coach Ruben Peeters is ‘unique‘

Speaking to LFCTV about his first week of training with Liverpool, the former Feyenoord boss has admitted that he was impressed with Otte’s decision to cut short his holidays and start with the Reds.

“He was with the USA team [at the Copa America], unfortunately for him they went out of the tournament,” says Slot.

“I gave him a few weeks off but he said ‘no, I want to come as soon as I can’ so he’s already in now after one week holiday and that is what you like to see,” adds the head coach.

“Having holiday is important as well as but you like to see staff members, players, that they want to come in as early as they can to join the team and help us to what will hopefully be a very good season.”

Fabian Otte gets straight down to work

It’s a good job Otte was keen to get started as soon as possible this summer. Without him, Liverpool don’t currently have a senior goalkeeping coach on the premises.

John Achterberg has joined Al Ettifaq after 15 years at Liverpool and his assistant, Jack Robinson, left as well.

Claudio Taffarel is staying with Liverpool but, like Otte, Taffarel was away at the Copa America this summer. A coach for Brazil, the World Cup winner made it a round further than Otte and the USA.

As a result, Taffarel is still away on holiday, leaving a void that needed filling on Merseyside.

Thankfully, Otte has stepped up. And although Alisson Becker is not yet back, he will be straight to work with Caoimhin Kelleher and Liverpool’s host of talented young ‘keepers. Welcome, Fabian!