Liverpool’s decision to hire Arne Slot has so far looked like the perfect call.
The Reds had the huge task of trying to find the right man to replace Jurgen Klopp over the summer and look to have got it absolutely spot on.
Slot was obviously not the only candidate Liverpool looked at, though.
It will fascinating next Tuesday as Xabi Alonso brings his Bayer Leverkusen side to Anfield. Had he felt ready to move on from Germany, perhaps Alonso would have been preparing for that game in the home dressing room instead.
If Alonso was an outstanding candidate, though, then Ruben Amorim was not too far off him.
Amorim was strongly tipped to take over at Liverpool before Slot was given the job instead. Fast forward to this Autumn and the Sporting boss is all ready to join Manchester United.
Liverpool did not want Ruben Amorim over Arne Slot
Amorim is clearly a very talented young manager. At 39 he has already won two league titles and a cup with Sporting.
There’s a reason Liverpool wanted to bring Amorim to Anfield and he was a popular potential choice amongst fans.
Since the news broke that he’s heading to Liverpool’s biggest rivals instead, some people of a Man United persuasion have tried to suggest that their new manager-in-waiting actually rejected the Reds for the Red Devils. But speaking to Anfield Agenda, journalist David Lynch refutes this suggestion.
“Definitely one who was in the running, who they considered and spoke to his representatives,” says Lynch. “So, it did go to that level. And I would say rightly so, what he’s achieved there at Sporting.
“But Liverpool never got to the point of offering him the job on the basis of the fact that he was so rigid in wanting to stick to that three at the back. For Liverpool, they knew they didn’t have a squad that was maybe fitted for that. They also really liked Arne Slot, not just because of that tactical fit but everything else that he brought.
“The idea that he was ahead of Slot as a choice is not exactly accurate,” the reporter adds.
“The idea that he’s turned down Liverpool and selected Manchester United as his next job is really not accurate. So, if anyone’s kind of pushing that idea I would push back against that.”
Liverpool got their number one choice
It seems a little bizarre that anyone would believe Amorim had the chance to turn Liverpool down and promptly took it.
The Portuguese coach is clearly ready to move to the Premier League and join one of its top clubs.
Surely if the option had been there over the summer rather than in November that would have been the preferred one for him.
Instead, it’s clear that the Liverpool owners only wanted Slot and duly got their man.
It will be fascinating to see how Amorim does at United and perhaps in time he will make Liverpool regret their decision to bump him down the shortlist. In the meantime, though, Arne is the only man for us.
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