Journalist is ‘certain’ that a new coach is heading to Liverpool | OneFootball

Etienne Reijnen Expected to Join Liverpool as Arne Slot Staff Takes Shape

Liverpool’s summer changes are not expected to stop with transfers. On Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Dave Davis and David Lynch discussed the anticipated arrival of Etienne Reijnen, with the former Feyenoord coach expected to join Arne Slot’s coaching staff at Liverpool.

Davis introduced the topic by saying the appointment felt “99.99% certain now”, referencing Arne Slot’s own response on the situation. Davis described Slot as “doing the politician’s answer”, but noted the Liverpool manager had shown “high regard for him” and said it had “worked for me before”.

Etienne Reijnen move looks close

Lynch was clear in his expectation. “Yeah, certain that this is going to happen now,” he said. For Liverpool, that matters because it points to the club continuing with Slot and reshaping the staff around him, rather than making a managerial change.

Lynch described Reijnen’s expected arrival as “a really big sign” that Liverpool are backing Slot. He said it showed that, “despite the claims that were all over social media last week of the manager being sacked”, the club are “definitely backing him”.

That was the wider context of the discussion. Reijnen is not being treated as an isolated coaching hire. His expected arrival is part of Liverpool giving Slot a revised structure after a difficult season.

Coaching staff changes around Arne Slot

Davis noted that Liverpool were “all just waiting for this announcement a little bit”, and Lynch agreed the direction of travel was clear. The question, then, is what Reijnen’s role will be.

Lynch said it would be “interesting to see what his remit ends up being”, asking, “does he take control of the set pieces?” He also raised whether Liverpool “allow Lewis Mahoney to step up”, having praised Mahoney’s work by saying, “I think he’s done fantastic work by the way in the second half of the season.”

This is where the appointment becomes particularly relevant. Liverpool are not only adding another coach, they may be redistributing responsibilities within Slot’s backroom staff.

Photo: IMAGO

Set piece role under discussion

Lynch explained that Reijnen has relevant experience from Feyenoord. “I know Etienne Reijnen has done set pieces at Feyenoord,” he said, before adding, “we’ll see how that all shakes out.”

He also suggested the announcement may not be far away, saying, “that might be the first change in the summer that we hear about or maybe they’ll kind of wait till pre season starts to mention that one.”

Heitinga question remains open

Davis then asked whether Reijnen’s expected arrival would rule out Johnny Heitinga. Lynch was unsure, explaining that there could still be space depending on the final structure.

“If Reijnen comes in as the kind of set piece lead,” Lynch said, “then there is space for Van Bronckhorst to go and other coach to come back in and that could be Johnny Heitinga if he fancies it.”

However, he also noted that Heitinga “got a bit of a bruising experience at Ajax” and questioned whether returning to Liverpool in a familiar role would appeal. Lynch concluded that “a lot depends on exactly what Etsy and Ryan’s role is really.”

For Liverpool, the key takeaway is clear. Etienne Reijnen is expected to join Arne Slot’s coaching staff, and his arrival would underline the club’s decision to support Slot into next season. As Lynch put it, Liverpool are “definitely backing him”, and the staff is “getting rejigged one way or the other.”