'To be honest': Liverpool great sets EXPECTATIONS for Arne Slot's debut season

Steve McManaman has given his take on the expectations facing Arne Slot in his debut season with Liverpool.

Arne Slot is the new Liverpool manager, taking on what is one of the toughest challenges in football on the face of it: following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.

The German departs as the most beloved Liverpool manager of recent times. He's also by far the most successful since Kenny Dalglish decades ago.

So what, exactly, should we expect from Slot? Do you take on a team like this and need to immediately win trophies on the foundations Klopp built? Or should everyone expect a little step back as the Dutchman builds something of his own?

Steve McManaman believes the real expectations should fall in between. More of the same is the order of the day.

Steve McManaman on Arne Slot

"[Success] would be anything like this year to be honest," he told TNT Sports. "They should be fighting at the top of the table and battling for all kinds of trophies.

"I love Jurgen and I think he’s an incredible manager but I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure on Arne Slot.

"The players are still brilliant, nobody’s leaving apart from [Joel] Matip and Thiago. Michael Edwards is back, Julian Ward is back, Richard Hughes is back and they’re going to sit above Arne Slot. They’ve already been at work identifying players.

"Liverpool are already in a very healthy position: qualifying for the Champions League, the new stand in the stadium so I think the transition should be relatively seamless."

It's the sensible take, in truth, and a debut season that sees Liverpool challenge for trophies and maybe clinch one would be a fine start. Above all, we just want to see consistency from the team and something to build on without taking too big of a step back.

It won't be easy for Slot to immediately bring the same kind of intensity that Klopp manager for most of this season. Hopefully, though, he isn't too far off it.