SLOT'S PLAN WAS BORN IN THE USA

How Liverpool's stars were won over in Philadelphia... on pre-season tour

- BY CHRIS MCKENNA

LIVERPOOL players were sitting in their hotel rooms in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia as they fielded some questions from their own team-mates.

They came in the form of Whatsapp messages and were about the new manager and his coaching staff.

Nothing out of the ordinary but a sign that those who were still on holiday after summer tournaments were champing at the bit to get involved.

Arne Slot called all of the first team to introduce himself and speak about his thoughts on them and the team.

Not long after Jurgen Klopp had announced his departure, Virgil van Dijk had already admitted he wanted to see the direction the club was going in, the questions about the Liverpool skipper's future having already started.

But once Slot was picked to take over by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, there was never a feeling among the Reds squad that the manager had something to prove to them.

Senior players couldn't wait to get going to show the new boss what they could do. They wanted to impress him, like eager school children wanting their gold stars from the teacher.