Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool have learned a valuable lesson from the ‘drop-offs’ experienced at Arsenal and Manchester United when their legendary long-term managers Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson left.
The Liverpool icon and football pundit spoke exclusively to Metro this week and is adamant his old club won’t repeat the same mistake with Jurgen Klopp.
Arne Slot officially became Liverpool’s new head coach on Saturday, replacing Klopp, who landed a number of trophies during his nine-year spell at Anfield.
Arsenal struggled when manager Wenger left after 22 years, with his successor Unai Emery lasting 18 months before he was sacked and replaced by Mikel Arteta.
Carragher, though, has argued that Liverpool have taken note of what happened with Wenger at Arsenal – as well as United’s dip when David Moyes replaced Ferguson in 2013 – who like Emery didn’t last long in the role before his dismissal.
Asked if he felt Slot could suffer a similar fate to Emery and Moyes, Carragher told Metro.co.uk: ‘I don’t think so.
‘Manchester United went from first to seventh when Alex Ferguson left. Liverpool just finished third so I don’t think we are going to drop to 10th.
‘I expect us to be competitive, as long as we have a good summer transfer window. We have people behind the scenes.
‘I don’t think they had that structure at Man United when Ferguson left. It was the same with Wenger.
‘They were old-fashioned football managers who ran everything and those days have gone.
‘The reason those days are gone is because when a figure like that – or any manager in fact – moves on, you almost have to start again.
‘I don’t think any manager wants that. I think the fact Arne Slot will be a head coach rather than a manager is pretty telling.
‘I don’t see Liverpool having as big a drop-off as Man United and Arsenal. There might be a drop-off, because Jurgen Klopp is a great football manager, but I still expect Liverpool to compete for all honours including the Champions League.’
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