New Liverpool boss Arne Slot insists he is relishing the daunting challenge of replacing Jurgen Klopp and hails the club’s ‘winning culture’ in first press conference since arriving at Anfield

Arne Slot does not expect any major changes at Liverpool this season now that he is in charge as head coach. The Dutchman says he has inherited a great squad with a winning culture already in place.

The new Liverpool manager faced the media for the first time since succeeding Jurgen Klopp on Friday morning, with eight Reds players reporting for pre-season training. And Slot says he is lucky to have a squad that has not needed many operations.

Asked if there was any fear after moving into Klopp’s former hot-seat, Slot said: “Not at all actually. You can look at it from both sides. They are big shoes to fill, but you can look at it as inheriting a team and a squad with a winning culture.

‘One of the reasons for coming here – and there are always more reasons for this – is that I think we have a very good squad and as a manager you want to work at a club with good players who have the chance to win something.

‘The past has shown that there is a possibility to win some trophies. I see it as ideal because there is a chance to win something. I like working with players and developing them, but I also like to win and at this club there is a chance to win.’

He posed with a Liverpool shirt and praised the ‘winning culture’ within the team he inherited

He insisted he is not afraid of taking on the challenge of replacing Jurgen Klopp

In a packed room at the AXA Training Centre, Slot sat with his new acquisition, sporting director Richard Hughes, while his right-hand men Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters sat in the back row, together with the Dutchman’s entourage, including super agent Rafaela Pimenta.

Further piqued by potential signings in the transfer window, Slot added: ‘For me it is clear that we have inherited a good team. There were already a few changes last season. The way I look at football, I see during the Euros how important it is to work with players on a daily basis.

‘You see a lot of very good players, but not all of them are at the same level at the clubs. That shows how important it is to work with your players every day and get the best out of them.

“That’s something we’re going to do. There’s already a really good team, there were a couple of new signings last season, so the longer a team plays together, if there’s a good head coach, you’ll see things improve.”

Slot was asked how he plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, but he dismissed it, insisting his system is fluid. ‘I’m a bit sad, maybe not the right word, but I was hoping that when people look at my team, they wouldn’t say it’s 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 or whatever formation you want to call it,’ he said.

“I was hoping they would say that there is a lot of freedom when they have the ball to play in different positions. So sometimes it’s a 4-2-3-1, sometimes it’s a 4-1-4-1, sometimes we build up with three. There is a lot of freedom when we have the ball.

Slot had sporting director Richard Hughes (right) on his side and claimed there will be no major shake-up at Liverpool this summer

Slot posed for photos with the club’s large trophy collection at their AXA Training Centre

Slot was asked how he plays the 4-2-3-1 formation, but he dismissed it, insisting his system is flexible.

Slot entered the training field in Kirkby together with his new signing Hughes

“But when we don’t have the ball, there’s not that much freedom. Then we really want to be aggressive and then there’s only one way and that is for everyone to keep their own position for the most part. There are a lot of players who take up a lot of different positions.

‘I wonder who told you we played 4-2-3-1? Maybe that person should get his (coaching) license or analyze a bit better!’