JURGEN PUT REAL-BARCA IN THE SHADE

Slot says mega-rivalry with City was massive reason why he wanted to join Liverpool

- DAVID ANDERSON

ARNE SLOT says he has succeeded Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool because he Iwanted to be part of the biggest rivalry in football.

Slot says Klopp reset the European agenda and made Liverpool v Manchester City clashes bigger box-office than Real Madrid-Barca showdowns.

He reckons those battles defined not just English football but the European game over the nine years of Klopp's Anfield reign.

"I'm 45 now and I've been watching football for a long time, Liverpool's new head coach told the club's website in his first interview since taking over at the start of the month.

"This has been an era where everybody looked at the Barcelona side of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi and the rivalry there was between Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo being there.