Arne Slot is confident Erik ten Hag will reemerge at a big club “in the near future” following his sacking by Manchester United yesterday.
Ten Hag was dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League table and having engineered little discernible improvement in his two and a half years in charge.
Liverpool boss Slot is friendly with his fellow Dutchman and said it was a “pity” he had left Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s EFL Cup clash at Brighton tomorrow night, he said: “He’s a Dutch manager so it makes it even harder for me, for us as Dutch people. Always your first thoughts are with the person. We are all in this job so we know that it can happen but if it happens – especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it – to get this news for him is a pity.
“We also know, especially us from Holland how well he did at Ajax and he won two trophies over here so we will see him in the near future again at a big club.”
While Ten Hag failed to win over his detractors at United, Slot continues to enjoy his honeymoon period at Anfield having replaced Jurgen Klopp over the summer.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal means the Reds are a point behind Manchester City.
Next up: A @Carabao_Cup fourth round tie on the south coast 🏆 #BHALIV pic.twitter.com/hflhaerQnT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 28, 2024
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Injuries prevent reshuffle
The EFL Cup also provides Slot with the chance to freshen up his side, but he admits he won’t be able to make wholesale changes like he did against West Ham in the previous round.
“I don’t think it’s possible to do the same for the simple reason that we’ve got some injuries so we don’t have enough players to change them all, if I wanted that,” he added.
“I think if you look at our schedule and the amount of times we have less days to recover apart from our opponent, it might be a moment for us to see some other players but I first have to see how fit everybody is.”
Right-back Conor Bradley is likely to return to the squad but Diogo Jota, Alisson, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa remain absent.
Endo to start
Japan midfielder Wataru Endo will play, however, having impressed Slot with his attitude this season.
“I think Wataru is one of the players that might be in the line-up because the season is so long and we will need him during the season and therefore he needs once in a while playing time as well,” said Slot.
“Fortunately he has this with the national team but it helps once in a while if he gets it with us.
“I really liked him against West Ham and what I admire about him is his personality because two times he had to come in five minutes before the end and sometimes in my managerial career I have sometimes seen players that come in five minutes from the end, they come in with a negative face and play like that.
“Every time if we need him, even if it’s for five minutes – he shows up for his team-mates and for himself. He deserves to play tomorrow.”
