With Arne Slot touted to take on the role as ‘head coach’, as opposed to Liverpool manager, the Dutchman has briefly explained why he is “not interested” in what his job title will be.

Neither Liverpool nor Feyenoord have publicly confirmed that Slot will move to Anfield in the summer, but the move is reported to be all but done.

The Dutchman will arrive after a shift in the club’s hierarchy, with Michael Edwards operating as FSG’s CEO of Football and Richard Hughes as sporting director.

The new structure is set to see Slot appointed as a ‘head coach’ rather than manager, and the 45-year-old sees no issue with Liverpool’s change of direction.

“I’m not interested in what you call me: you can call me Arne, head coach or manager,” Slot told reporters on Friday.

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“I don’t care, as long as I can do what I like, and that is being with the players on the pitch, testing things, working with them and being at the games as that is the most special thing.

“Especially here in the De Kuip, and from what I’ve been told that atmosphere is quite well where you (Sky Sports reporter) are coming from as well.”

With one question after another on a move to Liverpool as he previewed his side’s clash against PEC Zwolle, Slot handled it all brilliantly and gave fans a taste of what is soon to come.

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As head coach, Slot will take on a lot of the responsibilities that a manager would, but it decreases some of the responsibility for off-field affairs, which Jurgen Klopp has had increasing control of in recent years.

The club will feel the new structure gives more support to Slot, who offered a big hint as to when an official announcement of his arrival will be made.

Asked if he could be congratulated on the move, Slot replied: “You can always congratulate me, but it is most appropriate to do so at the end of the season when it is really official.”

Both Liverpool and Feyenoord have three games remaining, and while the title looks out of reach for both, the expectation is we will have to wait until the season concludes for anything official.

Slot added: “I still have the confidence that things will turn out well, but I really can’t give any further answers.”

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Liverpool have secured their place back in the Champions League for next season, but Jurgen Klopp senses he’s one of few currently seeing it as an achievement.

While the German may not be leading the squad on their return to Europe’s premier competition, that the club have secured their place was met with a big smile by Klopp.

With Tottenham falling to defeat at Chelsea on Thursday, Liverpool cannot finish lower than fourth this season – positive news, but well below expectations after initially being on course for the title.

Perception is everything and Klopp knows just that, but he did not let that take the shine off an achievement he has earmarked each and every season.

On qualifying for the Champions League, Klopp said: “I take that [the congratulations], I felt exactly the same [on Thursday night]. I was really happy.

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“It is an achievement. Does it feel to everybody like that? Maybe not, [but] to me it does.

“That’s how the perspective can change during the season because for a while we obviously looked like we can go all the way.

“Or at least stay in the race for longer, which was definitely possible [but] for different reasons that didn’t work out.

“I’m not sure now, probably third place in the league behind two teams who do really well, and they go all the way. That’s how it looks right now.

“I know mathematically there’s still a chance [of winning the title], or if you expect me to say it’s not over yet; it is not over yet, I know that, but it looks like [it].”

With three games remaining and the title all but out of reach, Klopp is hoping his team can rediscover some of their best form with the pressure now off their shoulders.

“The pressure is off now,” Klopp explained. “That’s done. It would be really cool if we could play really, really good football again. That would be absolutely nice because, obviously, we were very tense in the last few weeks.

“We had a super-intensive period as well; Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday – [it] didn’t work out for us now too well after a long, long season.

“But, how I said, going back to the start of the season nobody knew, and everybody knew how important it would be to qualify for the Champions League again.

“It’s what we did and it’s super important for the future of the club, and I’m really happy about that.”

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Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged Tottenham are a long way off being able to challenge for the Premier League title but believes the squad will grow from the current pain they feel.

Spurs suffered a third consecutive defeat on Thursday night in losing 2-0 at Chelsea, which followed a 3-2 reverse at home to Arsenal last Sunday and a four-goal thrashing away to Newcastle midway through April.

Those results have halted Tottenham‘s top-four bid and sparked questions over whether Postecoglou still remains on the right path to bring overdue success to the club.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, Postecoglou said: “We’re a long way off but it doesn’t mean we can’t challenge next year.

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“I think in terms of the team I want us to be we’re a fair way off, but I’m not dismissing the fact that we have to be competitive and challenge for success every year I am here.

“I’m not going to dismiss any year as just a building year. Every year is a building year to get to where we want to, but it’s also an opportunity for us to have success. As it was this year and we’ve fallen short of that.

“Every job I’ve taken has had tough bits. Sometimes at the start, sometimes in the middle, sometimes at the end.

“Nothing surprises me and it’s a necessary part of it. It’s how you grow. You don’t grow by thinking everything’s going to run smoothly. You need to go through these times and find out about yourself.”

Postecoglou has shuffled his pack in an attempt to get Spurs out of their current slump, with Yves Bissouma on the bench against Arsenal while James Maddison dropped out of the starting line-up at Chelsea.

The experienced Australian coach cut a frustrated figure at Stamford Bridge but rallied around his squad on Friday morning ahead of the next stern test against Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool.

“I’m sure they’re hurt but it’s also part of the process. It’s not going to change, you’re not going to have less derbies next year,” Postecoglou said.

“The big games will always be big games and you need to feel the pain, but understand that that sort of intensity will always be there when you’re representing this football club.

“I don’t think anyone has shirked it and I don’t think it’s for a lack of effort or desire.

“But, like I said, if you haven’t been put in that situation before it’s confronting, challenging and it’s how you navigate your way through that.

“Sometimes it’s on an individual basis. My kind of role in that is always the collective, about the environment, how we can create an environment that they feel like they can embrace that challenge.

“Last night was disappointing from a defensive pressing aspect because that has been pretty consistent all year, so that was the one area I was really disappointed with.

“But, in general, the lads were still trying to play and embed our principles.”

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