Jurgen Klopp calls for patience ahead of incoming manager Arne Slot's arrival at Anfield... but Liverpool manager assures his replacement the Reds have a 'fantastic squad' for him to work with

Jurgen Klopp has urged English football fans to lay off incoming boss Arne Slot and give him time to work his magic at Anfield - but the departing German believes he leaves Liverpool in an extremely healthy state for his successor.

Klopp has dubbed this current iteration of his Reds side as ‘Liverpool 2.0’ and the 56-year-old says that, even though he is leaving, the new manager can continue to make positive steps with the young team that won the Carabao Cup in February.

‘Liverpool 2.0 does not end with me,’ said Klopp, who now has just three games remaining at the club. ‘It’s just the new Liverpool. It’s just the start, they (the new coaching team) can make the next steps.

‘We all stand here like, “Yeah they could be champions”. It;s all a question of perspective. What you put on them next year. If you say, “OK last year (this season) was third, now you have to become champions”.

‘We had the time when we started. Do they have to wait four or five years? But if you give them time again, there’s a chance. We will see that. Who wins that battle, the patient ones or the other ones who waited long enough. There’s a really bright future I’m sure.’

Klopp says his phone is always switched on if Slot, who has struck a verbal agreement to join the Merseyside club, wants to speak to him or ask for advice - but it is unlikely he will perform an official handover.

‘It’s not my decision,’ added the German. ‘I am not in a position to give advice. When new people come in, if they want to know something they can call me - the whole world has my number. We can speak about absolutely everything, I love talking about everything in this club.

‘(They inherit a) fantastic squad. It was like, we could do this, we could do that, we need that. Thank God it’s not my job any more. That’s exactly the thing I don’t want to do any more. The people who (come into) this club will be calm enough.

‘They will all look at the information about the squad we have during the season. Age group is great, what’s coming up from the academy, positions, can you improve from outside? I don’t know if the money is there or not. You always can (improve) but the basis is absolutely great.

‘Look at the age of the midfield, really top. Stefan Bajcetic is back, really cool. Some will be here, some on loan, some sold. That’s all part of the thing. The basis we created is really good. We tried to win the league but it didn’t work out, but you have to see it in the long term as well.’