GIO IS THE ACE IN SLOT'S NEW PACK

FLORIAN WIRTZ is undoubtedly Arne Slot's biggest summer signing at Liverpool - but Giovanni van Bronckhorst could yet prove to be his best.

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The exit of assistant coach Johnny Heitinga - an unsung hero of last season's Premier League title triumph - to Ajax was undoubtedly a blow.

But now Liverpool have swiftly recruited a vastly experienced, high-class replacement in Van Bronckhorst, who has already won seven trophies during various managerial spells in Holland, Scotland and Turkey.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona defender - capped 106 times by Holland - lifted more silverware as Feyenoord manager, with five trophies, than Slot did and also guided the Dutch giants to Eredivisie glory for the first time in 18 years.

But it is no surprise to see him jump at the chance to work alongside his compatriot at Anfield, as the pair set their sights on another slice of history an English-record 21st league crown.

Van Bronckhorst previously said of his new colleague: “Arne Slot is an exceptional coach, he is showing great things with Liverpool and doing that in the toughest league in the world.