Arne Slot repeats Jurgen Klopp trick that Liverpool fans will love

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot got off to a less-than-ideal start yesterday as his team fell to a 1-0 defeat in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston North End. But nobody will be reading into it too much — least of all the new manager, who was spotted soon after doing something Jurgen Klopp also did in his early days at the club .

Unfortunately for Slot , there will be no escaping the Klopp comparisons, at least in the first few months. It's why taking over Liverpool at this particular moment was both a blessing and a curse; few managers inherit a squad in such good shape, but few have such a tough act to follow.

And with Klopp so beloved off the field as well as on it, all aspects of Slot's early tenure will be analyzed closely, well beyond what happens on the pitch at Anfield . Of course, he needs to be given space to be his own man and his own manager, but fans will nonetheless love what he did in the aftermath of that debut defeat.

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Later that evening, having succumbed to an absolute wondergoal from Robbie Brady of all people (who knew he was still going strong?), Slot was photographed out and about in Liverpool. Posting on X, Shaun O'Donnell shared a snap with the new head coach on Castle Street.

Klopp very quickly reached a level of fame and adoration where that would simply not have been feasible. But he did actually hit the town even earlier than Slot, venturing out into the city after his very first press conference.

Per the BBC , Klopp enjoyed drinks with fans at the Old Blind School bar in Hardman Street. The gastro-pub venue, which had only opened earlier that year, would end up closing in 2017.

A Liverpool fan who was there at the time described Klopp as his "usual charismatic self". After what had already been a tub-thumping introduction in front of the media, this sighting elevated excitement levels even further — perhaps explaining why the German was rarely able to repeat his night out.

Slot's own introductory press conference was a little more understated, but fans will have enjoyed seeing his human side as he interacted with supporters out in Liverpool. Ultimately, though, the biggest thing he will be judged by is results on the pitch.

Liverpool.com says: Enjoy the city while you can, Arne! Even if he only reaches a tenth of the fame, success and adoration as Klopp, the passion of the fans (on both sides of the divide) might mean Slot prefers to spend his leisure time elsewhere before too long.

But for the time being, it's nice seeing him out and about, and happy to interact with the people of the city. It's an important way of getting a feel for the place where he will be managing, with Klopp always so good at understanding the unique ethos of Liverpool.