Emile Heskey spots Liverpool difference between Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has praised Arne Slot's work at Anfield and discussed how his tactics differ from Jurgen Klopp's approach, while admitting he wouldn't have wanted to play alongside Mohamed Salah

Emile Heskey has offered his opinion on Liverpool's season so far(Image: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey is urging the Reds' key players to rise to the occasion for Arne Slot in the final weeks of the campaign, though he admits he would have struggled to feature in the same side as Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool bolstered its hopes of a top-five finish with a commanding 5-2 triumph over West Ham on Saturday, and while expectations have been tempered since the Reds began the season as many pundits' title favorites, securing Champions League soccer after a turbulent campaign would represent a reasonable achievement.

Ex-Red Heskey, who was part of the cup treble-winning squad under Gerard Houllier in 2001, has closely monitored how Arne Slot has shaped his side since succeeding Jurgen Klopp in the summer of 2024, and believes the Dutchman has largely directed his attention toward the attacking end of the pitch during his time at Anfield.

"I think you're looking at individual players to step up for Liverpool," Heskey told OLBG.

"When Jurgen Klopp was at Liverpool he started from the back and built the defence first. He didn't worry too much about the forwards. He knew that would all come.

"He cemented a structure at the back that basically sustained them up until not so long ago and it's done really well over the years that he was there. Then he could go onto the forwards and really start building that heavy metal football.

Arne Slot is battling to save Liverpool's season(Image: Getty Images)

"With Arne Slot, he's gone with the forward line first, and it's been a little bit more difficult at times because you want Florian Wirtz to be getting on the ball all the time.

"You want Mohamed Salah to be scoring all the goals like he did before.

"Liverpool still need someone to emulate what we had with Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, and you probably want someone up front who's going to give you sort of the balance that Roberto Firmino brought, having two goalscorers either side of him.

"Slot is building something totally different, and it's never going to look the same, but now Liverpool have got Hugo Ekitike up front, and I think he's done fantastic."

Heskey netted 60 times in 223 outings for the Reds between 2000 and 2004, during which he forged a formidable partnership with Michael Owen for both club and country, frequently utilising his physical prowess to connect with crosses from wide positions.

When asked whether he would have relished playing alongside a winger of Salah's calibre, he remarked: "I remember someone asking me a few years back, would you have liked to play with Mohamed Salah? I said probably not.

"I'd probably prefer to play with Trent (Alexander-Arnold) because I know he's going to cross the ball for me.

"Mo's not going to cross. Mo wants to score goals. We've gone from wingers who want to provide to wingers who want to score goals."