'We looked at what was so special about Arne'

FSG's Werner on Liverpool's transition from Klopp to Slot

- By PAUL GORST

On the back of a hugely successful season, it’s fitting that Tom Werner begins by hoisting aloft one of the giant pieces of silverware that decorate his home office in the United States.

But rather than continuing to bask in the glory of a Premier League title-winning campaign for Arne Slot and his players, that the Liverpool chairman is in possession of a Champions League replica is in some way symbolic of what might still be to come.

Werner said: "It is an exciting time right now but we wake up every day and I keep using the word 'relentless!

"We want to win more trophies, we don't want to just appreciate what we have done. We are hungry to be more successful and what is exciting is that the league is tremendously competitive and we think it will be a challenging season."

The origin story of the club's 20th league triumph can be traced back over 18 months to when Jurgen Klopp informed Werner and the rest of Fenway Sports Group of his intention to walk away after nearly a decade in charge.

Klopp told FSG in November of 2023 of his plans and it speaks to the relationships that exist at that level of the operation that the then-Reds boss was able to publicly deliver his exit message on his terms over two months later.

"Jurgen was talking about how relentless the job is and he didn’t really do much in Liverpool except wake up in the morning and drive to the training ground or Anfield, spend all day working and come home late at night," Werner says.

"I saw the toll it was taking on him and I consider him to be a close friend, so when people think about being the manager, they think the focus is on winning matches every weekend but it’s so complex, the job.

"You have to be the leader of the academy, the assistants, the staff, the physios, the doctors and of course the supporters.

"Of course, I wish he would have continued but I was also respectful, as a friend, for all the contributions he made.