John Barnes urges Liverpool fans to back new boss Arne Slot

Following eight-and-a-half years at Anfield where he helped the club to win the Premier League and Champions League among his eight trophies, Klopp left the club at the end of last season.

Klopp's successor Slot, a 45-year-old Dutch coach who guided Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title in six years in 2023 and the Dutch Cup last season, now faces the task of picking up where one of Liverpool's most successful managers left off.

Slot will start his reign with an away trip to newly-promoted Ipswich on August 17 and ex-Liverpool man Barnes insists fans cannot compare Slot to Klopp if it does not get off to a perfect start.

Barnes told media: "I'm hoping the players show the same respect to Slot that they showed to Klopp by giving 100 per cent.

"If they approach the games in the same attitude under Slot as they did Klopp then they will be fine.

"I'm hoping the fans get behind them regardless of how well they do to begin with. All of a sudden if we lose the first game of the season, I don't want us to then talk about Klopp not being here.

"I'm sure the players and the fans will still have enough respect for Slot to give the same trust we had in Klopp."

The new Liverpool head coach previously admitted he has "big shoes to fill" after Klopp took the club to three Champions League finals and their first league title in 30 years.

Barnes feels it is not easy for players to adapt to different coaches.

He added: "It isn't easy for players to adapt, but we have to do it because we have seen when Sir Alex Ferguson left (Manchester United), Arsene Wenger left (Arsenal), Kenny Dalglish left Liverpool, it's a subconscious thing because you kind of drop off.

"When you have someone as iconic as Jurgen Klopp that the fans love, you know if we lose today the fans are not going to blame the manager, they will blame the players, so they have to perform.

"If the fans boo the manager, then the players don't perform, so the fans have a big part to play, they have to demand the players play for the football club, forget Klopp or Slot."

Slot is still waiting to make his first signing as boss but Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move away from Anfield to European champions Real Madrid.

Barnes backs the 25-year-old to go and succeed wherever he plays but would like him to stay at Liverpool next season.

He said: "He's a good player and can play anywhere, Trent will decide what he wants to do - I think he could fair well at Real Madrid. I think he'd be better at Liverpool."

Barnes was paying a surprise visit to some of the local volunteers and players at grassroots club MSB Woolton.

The visit was part of the FA's work to highlight the importance of grassroots volunteers and encourage more people to take up a role in volunteering.

He said: "The FA grassroots scheme is to get volunteers to come along and encourage kids to play football and come together in the community. This is just about getting kids to come and learn values that football instils in people."

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