SLOT'S A CLEVER CUSTOMER... HIS BRILLIANT SHOCK TACTICS GOT VAN BASTEN TO QUIT

Former manager and team-mate hail Dutchman and his 'genius' as a player that laid foundations

- BY NICK CHERRIE

LIVERPOOL fans may be getting a bit jittery after three defeats on the trot, but you won't find Arne Slot looking for the panic button.

That's because the Kop boss is the coolest, calmest customer in town, who was unflappable as a player and surprised even his harshest critics.

Nobody would be surprised if Slot has used the international break to think of a radical game plan to confuse Ruben Amorim and Manchester United at Anfield today.

That's because he did exactly that 16 years ago - and it led to one of Holland's greatest managers resigning.

Marco van Basten stepped down as Ajax coach following a tactical masterclass by Slot and Sparta Rotterdam, who were fighting for survival at the end of the season.

Slot was a midfielder, but his influence on tactical issues proved the foundation for his career as a coach.

Ex-Rotterdam technical chief and manager Foeke Booy (right, inset), and Slot's teammate Edouard Duplan, lift the lid on what makes the Anfield boss such a tactical genius.

French forward Duplan said of that day in 2009: "The 4-0 win over Ajax, with great players like Luis Suarez, Thomas Vermaelen and Gregory van der Wiel in their side stands out still as such a very special thing which Arne created. Everything came together.