Arne Slot exclusive: Liverpool boss reveals style influences after record-breaking start - 'I don't look up to anyone'

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Liverpool's new manager, Arne Slot, appears to have settled in well at Anfield as he prepares for Saturday's clash against Crystal Palace. The early kick-off game, shown live on TNT Sports, presents his side with the opportunity to claim a sixth consecutive victory under the Dutchman, and comes on the back of their UEFA Champions League victory over Bologna.

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Video credit: SNTV

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he does not have managerial idols, but sometimes he may “steal a few things” from his rivals.

Slot has made an excellent start at Anfield after his arrival this summer: Liverpool have won each of their last five matches under the Dutchman and the only blot on his record so far was a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The Reds sit top of the early Premier League table and travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Speaking to TNT Sports' Sign Up - Into Football, Slot explained that he does not hold up any manager as an example to follow, but he might pinch some ideas when he is watching other teams play.

He said: “That’s not how it works. If you play football you don’t look up to other players, you can enjoy what they do and how well they play, and that’s the same for managers. In modern football there are many managers whose teams they are leading play really good football, and we can all name [them].

"I don’t look up to anyone in particular because I’m not in that position. It would be a bit strange as well. That’s not to say you can’t learn, as well, or enjoy other teams, and then it’s not a bad idea to steal a few things once in a while, and that’s why we watch a lot of football.”

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Van Basten was 'someone I wanted to be'

Slot did acknowledge the influence of Dutch legend Marco van Basten, widely regarded as one of the world’s best players for the Netherlands, Ajax and AC Milan in the 1980s.

He added: “Maybe not look up to, but when I was playing at five, six, seven years old, you always want to be someone. I come from the Netherlands, and for me that was Marco van Basten.

“One of my heroes, because we only won one tournament in our history, and he was a big factor in them. Back then, I was 10, he was certainly someone I wanted to be when I was young. Later on, we’ve already enjoyed so many players, whether it’s Ronaldinho, [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Neymar, Mo Salah, all these kinds of names are a joy to watch.”

Slot also discussed his managerial pedigree, and suggested that he might have been destined to become a manager given his father’s influence.

“When I was quite young I trained under-sevens, under-eights, under-nines from my former amateur club,” he said.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

“My father was also a manager at amateur level, but he also worked in a school. He was a teacher, and the good thing about being a teacher is you get lots of holidays. And when he was on holiday, he asked, ‘can you replace me as a manager at my amateur club'?

“Already at 21, 22, I was doing these kinds of things, and all my team-mates from my club would probably say they were not surprised I became a manager. So probably from quite a young age.”

Slot will be aiming to make it nine wins from 10 games in all competitions as Liverpool boss when he takes his side to Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime.

How to watch Crystal Palace v Liverpool?

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Southampton v Manchester United will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 11:00 UK time on Saturday, September 14, ahead of kick-off at 12:30.

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