Arne Slot influence clear after disastrous pre-season result as Liverpool fans await response

Arne Slot appears to have settled in well at Anfield during the first three weeks of pre-season training and there is optimism in the air ahead of the new campaign.

While there was a minor hiccup in the training ground friendly defeat to Preston North End nine days ago, the Reds responded well with a comfortable victory over Real Betis on Friday in the first of three games in the United States.

But it appears that results elsewhere may have set the standard for Slot already this summer. While all eyes have generally been on the Reds in action across the pond, some may have wandered to the Portuguese capital over the past 24 hours.

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That's because on Sunday, Slot's former side Feyenoord was hammered 5-0 by Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, potentially signalling the struggles the Dutch outfit is experiencing following the departure of its former boss.

When Slot was awarded the Liverpool job earlier this year, it's believed that his attacking style of play and ability to develop players were key factors in the final decision for the Anfield hierarchy. In the past two seasons, Slot guided Feyenoord to the Eredivise title in 2022-23, before bowing out with a second-place finish in the last campaign - along with the KNVB Cup.

He also oversaw the sales of Marco Senesi to Bournemouth , Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United , Luis Sinisterra to Leeds United during his time at the club, with all three excelling during his first season in charge as Feyenoord reached the final of the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2021-22.

Former Denmark international Brian Priske is the clubs new manager following Slot's departure for Anfield and he certainly has big boots to fill. While the club won their first three pre-season friendlies of the summer against Dutch second-tier side Dordrecht and Belgian duo Genk and Cercle Brugge, the wheels certainly came off against Benfica on Sunday.

The 5-0 defeat was a crushing blow to Feyenoord's pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign but perhaps the most concerning part of the result was how it was 4-0 down after just 18 minutes in Lisbon. While it may only be a pre-season friendly and shouldn't be read into too much, perhaps Slot's departure may already be having an effect on the players.

Of course, we won't be able to tell just how major Slot's absence at Feyenoord will be once the season has begun, but Liverpool fans may be keeping an extra close eye on the Dutch outfit's next few games to see whether any more similar results come their way now the new manager has taken over.

Slot impressed enough at Feyenoord to be chosen as Klopp's successor and although two games in charge of the Reds isn't enough to go off just yet, the impact his departure may have already had at his former club is.