Liverpool’s building blocks should ensure Arne Slot is not another David Moyes… but dealing with Darwin Nunez and three stars’ expiring contracts will be top of his in-tray, writes LEWIS STEELE

When Jurgen Klopp shocked Anfield on Sunday by singing ‘Arne Slot, na na na na na’ – to the tune of Opus’ Live is Life – thoughts couldn’t help returning to 2013 and Sir Alex Ferguson’s final speech to Old Trafford.

“The most important thing now (for the fans) is to get behind our new manager,” he said upon retirement. Look how that turned out. The only chant sung about his replacement was led by Manchester City fans. “David Moyes is a football genius,” they sang mockingly.

So in many ways Liverpool must learn from their bitter rivals when it comes to success in an era that could be a hangover for a legendary boss. But it’s a pretty insignificant comparison. Although United are a mess of a club, Liverpool still have the foundation for success.

With a complete overhaul at executive level – led by new Football CEO Michael Edwards, sporting director Richard Hughes, plus the recruitments of Julian Ward and Pedro Marques – the structure is in place for new head coach Slot to prove his methods can work in Rotterdam or anywhere.

On the one hand, there is a built-in box that will greet Slot when he officially starts work at the beginning of June. But Liverpool’s thorough, data-driven recruitment process has led them to believe he is the man who can solve many of the problems he may face.

The Reds confirmed on Monday that Arne Slot (photo) will take over from Jurgen Klopp

Things quickly went downhill for United when David Moyes (pictured) replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as boss

Central to this is his ability to improve underperforming talent. Cough cough, Darwin Nunez. The big-money striker has scored just two goals in his last 15 appearances and the Klopp era ended with the Uruguayan finding himself in some trouble as he was assigned to a substitute role.

But Nunez, who Slot reportedly mentioned directly in a personal interview with sporting director Hughes, will certainly benefit from a new face. One case study is Argentinian striker Santiago Gimenez.

Brought from relative obscurity at Mexican side Cruz Azul, Gimenez has scored 14 goals in his last two seasons in Liga MX. Under Slot’s leadership at Feyenoord, he scored 49 in two years and told English reporters in De Kuip this month: ‘As a person and coach, Arne is complete.

‘It was a big step (for me) to come from Mexico to the Netherlands and he gave me confidence. He has always pushed me to get better. I am very grateful to Arne, I hope he can do well everywhere. He can talk to the players very well.’

Mail Sport reported two weeks ago how Nunez will continue to be backed by Liverpool amid reports linking him with Barcelona. The club is not yet prepared to give up on him – and that is reinforced by Slot’s ability to nurture talent.

Another star who could benefit from his coaching is Luis Diaz, another star linked outside the club by foreign media. It is said that Slot ‘loves wingers’. At Feyenoord he turned Luis Sinisterra from an unwanted flop into one of their record sales. He is now in Bournemouth, via Leeds.

Slot has been appointed under the guise of head coach rather than manager, so he will have no practical input into contracts and transfers, but also at the top of his in-box are the expiring deals of captain Virgil van Dijk, the highest earner Mohamed Salah. and key man Trent Alexander-Arnold.

All three have only one year left on their contracts and all face an uncertain future. Van Dijk has hinted in the past how he wanted to see the new manager in action before committing his future. There’s nothing to worry about yet, but something to keep an eye on.

United have not won the Premier League since Ferguson left office more than a decade ago in 2013

One of Slot’s most important tasks will be improving underperforming talent, such as Darwin Nunez (front)

The future of captain Virgil van Dijk (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) must also be sorted out

Trent Alexander-Arnold was visibly emotional at full-time on Saturday, setting the rumor mills turning

Salah has long been courted by Saudi Arabia’s big spenders and it is not sensational to suggest they will do anything for him again this summer. He loves the club, despite a falling out with Klopp a month ago, and wants to continue playing at the top level.

Alexander-Arnold was visibly emotional at full-time in Klopp’s final match, which set the rumor mills turning, not least in the Kop as he wiped away tears and performed a solo lap of honour. Real Madrid and other clubs are monitoring his situation.

Scouser Alexander-Arnold has an affinity with the club like few others. You can’t blame him if, after winning everything on offer here, he was tempted for a change of scenery. But just like Van Dijk, he is not going to make a hasty decision. Van Dijk said there are no new contract offers on the table yet.

Slot emerged as Liverpool’s No. 1 candidate after a thorough, data-heavy process led by head of research Will Spearman, Edwards and Hughes. His ability to take players to the next level and unleash the potential of a team proved crucial.

Liverpool’s hierarchy also noted that Slot performed significantly better. Before his arrival, Feyenoord was a club in disarray with only one league title in the 21st century. He returned them to one of the superpowers of the Netherlands.

Liverpool’s hierarchy are said to have noticed how Slot was over-performing in his job at Feyenoord

Slot, who uses a system not too dissimilar to Klopp’s, is known for using crazy methods to maximize success, with new head of performance Ruben Peeters leading quirky research into gut health and DNA testing. The boss spends hours analyzing opponents and is known to ‘delete’ negative images so as not to damage confidence.

All the numbers in Liverpool’s recruitment process pointed to Slot being the man for the job, but he knows statistics mean little if he doesn’t walk his talk on the pitch. Just like Moyes at United, he has big shoes to fill. But with a sturdy structure above him, he can fit in just fine.