Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt heaps pressure on Arne Slot

Former Netherlands attacker Dirk Kuyt has heaped the pressure on his 'pal', incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot.

• "At the end of the day, if Liverpool don't win a trophy of some sort this season, I don't think you could say it's been a satisfying campaign."
• "The level from Holland to England is at least two steps higher, so it's not easy to make that move. So when you're talking about Feyenoord players joining Arne at Liverpool, I think Lutsharel Geertruida is the one, really, who would be able to make that move."
• "Hopefully he has the chance, one day, to play in the Premier League - and hopefully that's in a Liverpool shirt."
• "At the end of the day, if Liverpool don't win a trophy of some sort this season, I don't think you could say it's been a satisfying campaign.
• "Slot came in and reached a European Cup final in 2022, won a league title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup in 2024. This tells me that if anyone is capable of coming into Liverpool, handling the pressure and hitting the ground running, it's Arne Slot."
• "He knows everything about football; not only Dutch football, but you could ask him anything about football and I think he could give you an answer. Premier League fans are going to like him."
  

I think Liverpool could do with strengthening in defence, and in midfield. But a lot will depend on who will be leaving the club, because then you can see exactly what you need to bring in. That being said, if not many players leave this summer, I don't think Arne [Slot] will change too much. If he's going to buy, he'll know what this team needs, and I'm sure he'll only bring in something the team doesn't already have. 

But we have a pretty decent team, and I think Arne is very happy with the players who are already there, and I think he's trying everything to keep as many players in as possible. 

The level from Holland to England is at least two steps higher, so it's not easy to make that move. So when you're talking about Feyenoord players joining Arne at Liverpool, I think Lutsharel Geertruida is the one, really, who would be able to make that move. 

Lutsharel is someone I'd love to see playing in the Premier League; I really think he'd fit into English football. He has great stamina, he's great on the ball, he's physically strong... he's capable of making the step up to the Premier League.

I'm asked a lot about players who I think are good enough to step up to the level of Liverpool, or the Premier League in general, from Holland, and Lutsharel is definitely one of them. Hopefully he has the chance, one day, to play in the Premier League - and hopefully that's in a Liverpool shirt. 

It's very difficult to say what I think is going to happen with Liverpool next season. The Euros are still going on, Jurgen Klopp has gone and there's a new manager, who I know very well. While it's very strange not having Jurgen Klopp in charge, I'm really excited to see Arne Slot take over. 

But we don't have a clue - at this moment in time - who is going out, who is coming in, we don't know how other teams are preparing... but Liverpool should always be looking to finish in the highest position. I'm very happy the team is back in the Champions League, but now they have to perform in that competition. And they have to perform in the Premier League. At the end of the day, if Liverpool don't win a trophy of some sort this season, I don't think you could say it's been a satisfying campaign. 

That means there is pressure on Arne Slot, for sure, because there's always pressure when you're managing a big club like Liverpool. It's going to be a bit strange for everyone, to be honest, having a new manager at Liverpool. But we know that the supporters are always behind their team, and they're always behind their manager. I've no doubt that will be the case for Arne Slot, too. 

I'm very convinced the fans will love his style of play. But you have to remember there's so much change at the club right now; you know, it's not just Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp, it's a completely new set of staff, too, and so you do need a bit of time. In football, you don't get that much time, but that's something Arne Slot is both aware of and used to... you know, he came into Feyenoord who might be a small club in Europe, but they're a huge club in Holland, and expectation among supporters is so high. He came in and reached a European Cup final in 2022, won a league title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup in 2024. This tells me that if anyone is capable of coming into Liverpool, handling the pressure and hitting the ground running, it's Arne Slot. 

Arne Slot is a family man, but he's also a guy who is so into football; he's 24/7 football. If you watch his press conferences, you'll see he speaks very well and clearly expresses himself. He can be funny sometimes, but he's also very straightforward. He knows everything about football; not only Dutch football, but you could ask him anything about football and I think he could give you an answer. Premier League fans are going to like him.

Of course, if I can help Liverpool in any way, then I will. I've always been in contact with people at the club - I did some work for the foundation of the club, I've done some commercial work for them, too... I've always been close with them. On or off the pitch, I've always tried to help the club, because when you sign for Liverpool, you become part of a family. 

Euro 2024 might be in full swing, with England still the favourites, but fans are seriously excited about the return of the Premier League, with Liverpool third favourites to be crowned champions come the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.