Arne Slot's text messages from Jurgen Klopp and ex-Liverpool manager's opinion of him

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Jurgen Klopp backed Liverpool successor Arne Slot long before the Dutchman's current struggles at Anfield. The Reds boss finds himself facing renewed pressure following Sunday's 3-0 hammering at Manchester City , marking his seventh loss in their past 10 matches.

The outcome has left Liverpool languishing in eighth place in the Premier League , with Slot shelving any discussion of a title challenge for now . The international break offers a chance to regroup before the campaign's most gruelling stretch, something Klopp knows all too well .

Yet despite the mounting pressure surrounding Anfield, supporters can take comfort in knowing Klopp himself endorsed Slot's appointment. The German even revealed he'd exchanged messages with the former Feyenoord boss before his arrival on Merseyside.

"Arne, yeah. Really good coach," he told ESPN last year following Slot's appointment. "I was really happy when I heard that Liverpool was going for Arne Slot. I wasn't involved in anything, it should not be like that, and I'm not this kind of guy in the background, still having some strings and stuff. Like I don't want that. The club is too big, too good. [The] People are too good.

"A lot of things changed since we left. But the only concern for me was, will they get a good coach? Liverpool was early and Liverpool got a top, top, top solution in Arne Slot."

Slot's debut season at Anfield was a resounding success as Liverpool practically strolled to the Premier League title. They were even on the brink of an unprecedented treble if only a few other results had swung their way.

Klopp, who is rumoured to be considering a return to Anfield , left a massive void at his old haunt, but Slot quickly proved he was up to the task. When quizzed about any communication he'd had with his successor, Klopp revealed he'd sent Slot texts after his appointment was announced, though he didn't divulge the specifics of their chat.

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"We spoke one or two times [at the start]. I think we texted a few more times. But there is nothing I can tell him what he couldn't know himself," he added. "Right now from my side, just to give positive feedback in the beginning because we are all human beings and he worked his socks off.

"I know that because the tour is super intense in a year when you have Euros and Copa, you don't have the team together, but they come, you have one week until the first matchday and stuff like that. So I think he had similar situation, but exactly the same situation? Definitely not.

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"When I saw the games, that's why I watched it, not to think, oh, how does it look? The work he did was obvious, the ideas obvious. And that's the best you can say about the coach."

Fast forward to the present day, and Liverpool's dip in form has left many puzzled. A record-breaking summer of spending had teed the Reds as clear favourites to clinch consecutive Premier League titles, yet a lack of chemistry in certain areas has hindered their chances.

Slot now has two weeks to gear up for their next challenge at Nottingham Forest after the international break. And he can only hope the fans maintain the same faith Klopp once demonstrated in his ability to steer things back on course.

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