'Not the way it works': Arne Slot makes admission about Liverpool's Dutch players including Virgil van Dijk

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Arne Slot has wasted no time in making an impression at Liverpool, having spearheaded the club to nine wins from ten games across all competitions.

The Reds find themselves at the Premier League summit after seven games and could be involved in a title race with Arsenal and Manchester City if they manage to keep up their momentum in the coming weeks.

There is a strong Dutch contingent at Liverpool currently, with Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo all playing important roles for the club this season.

The likes of Sipke Hulshoff, John Heitinga and Ruben Peeters, who are part of his coaching staff are also from his home country, which has led to claims that he prefers working with his compatriots.

And Slot has emphatically put such claims to bed as he spoke about what he really thinks about Van Dijk and the rest of the Dutch contingent at Liverpool.

Read More:Three decisions Arne Slot has already got perfectly right at Liverpool this season

Arne Slot says Virgil van Dijk and other Liverpool players judged purely on skill

Van Dijk has been at the club since January 2018 and has firmly established himself as one of the best defenders of his generation, having also inherited the captain’s armband from Jordan Henderson at the start of last season.

Slot feels Van Dijk – and the other Dutch players like Gakpo and Gravenberch – will be judged based on what they bring to the table and their performances, adding that their nationalities play no part in shaping his sporting decisions.

"For me, it doesn't matter if Virgil would have been French, Dutch or German, I like him because of the quality he has,” said Slot on Stadium Astro’s YouTube channel.

“And that is what he brings, what he should bring to this club and as a result to me as well, but it's not like that, I am like, oh, I am in Manchester at the moment, where should I go for dinner tonight? Let's go, Virgil. No, no, no, that's not the way it works.

“Yeah, it's good to bring a few staff members with you that you know for a long time and they are Dutch, but I don't care if Virgil is Dutch, or Cody or Ryan is Dutch. I only care about their quality that helps the club and as a result that helps me."

Slot’s no-nonsense approach already paying dividends

Klopp endeared himself to the Liverpool fans with his charisma and aura immediately and was the kind of leader the Anfield faithful were crying out for at the time.

Read More: Arne Slot discloses what Jurgen Klopp told him about Liverpool's team before he took the job

However, considering the state of the club currently, Slot’s no-nonsense approach and his obsession with getting results is exactly what Liverpool need as they aim to end Manchester City’s era of dominance in England.

It’s not to say the Dutchman doesn’t have a welcoming personality, but judging by what we’ve seen so far, he prefers to let results do the talking, which will in turn get the fans on his side.

And it’s safe to say his approach has paid off in some style so far…