Incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot explains wait to start work at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp's replacement as he reveals how he has been inspired by tennis superstar Novak Djokovic

Slot has had to wait a few months to give an official interview as Liverpool's new head coach but he has finally sat down with the club for the first time. He went on to reveal he did not contact the squad until after Jurgen Klopp's departure out of respect and that his methods are unconventional, with the Dutchman often taking inspiration from other sports stars, particularly tennis icon Djokovic.

Asked why he had taken some time to arrive in an interview with the club, Slot said: "First and foremost, maybe the farewell of Jurgen, which was really special from what I saw. It was on the same day I left Feyenoord as well but I did see a few things and afterwards there was even a few more farewells from what I saw, so I think it was fair to him and to the club and to the supporters to wait a bit and then to come in. Apart from that, I went on holiday as you can probably see!"

When asked whether he takes inspiration from other sports, he added: "The way some sports handle the mental side of the game can help you. And I sometimes used it in team meetings before a game, so I tried to use examples of cycling or at the moment we've seen Roland-Garros and we've seen [Novak] Djokovic winning in a really tough game, and I think that's one of his qualities, that he can also win the game when it's not going his way, he can still find a way to win it."

Slot is stepping into a demanding role at Liverpool but the way he has conducted himself in his first official interview will be encouraging for Reds fans. The 45-year-old comes across as intelligent and respectful. Like Klopp before him, he will be aware of how much the club means to the Merseyside fans.

Slot admitted in his interview that he has already been working for weeks and with the Premier League fixtures recently announced, the excitement levels in the north west will have gone up a notch. Liverpool will first head to the US for their pre-season tour alongside several other top-flight clubs.