Lijnders, 41, spent six years working under Jurgen Klopp as assistant coach before he stood down from his role back in May. Lijnders also opted to move on to pastures new and is now in charge at Red Bull Salzburg.
Jamie Carragher notices what Arne Slot did for first time during Liverpool's Chelsea win
After months of speculation, Liverpool announced that Slot would succeed Klopp at the helm days after the German's final game in charge - and the former Feyenoord chief has made a seamless transition into the role.
Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League after winning seven of Slot's first eight league games in charge. And Slot has also overseen wins over AC Milan and Bologna in the Champions League.
In a new interview with The Mail, Lijnders said he was "grateful" to witness Liverpool's new man flourishing at Anfield, saying: “There has been a lot said already about our exit but the main thing I would like to add is that we really wanted to leave the club in the right way. Announce it early so they have the time to find the right guys, it is not easy to find a coach of the calibre of Liverpool.
“What is happening now with Arne, doing the job he is doing… wow, it makes me really grateful. I feel blessed to see it, the way the club is doing and performing on a really high level. Certain players are flourishing and making the next steps.
“That was the whole idea of us leaving early, so this could happen and the club can continue to grow. I owe Liverpool everything. I owe the fans and players everything. It was my life. For 10 years, it was the only thing I thought about.”
Join the debate! What have you made of Slot so far, Liverpool fans? Let us know here.
Former Liverpool No.2 Lijnders is now the head coach at Red Bull Salzburg
Despite Liverpool's storming start to the season, Slot recently insisted that is too soon to label the Reds as genuine title contenders ahead of a challenging run of fixtures.
He explained: “If you judge your team only on a week that would not be fair. We have to judge us after this spell of games, not three but six seven eight then we know better how we act if we play tough Champions League games and tough league games.
“We know how difficult it is. We saw the last year when we played Champions League, we saw last year with Man United, the only ones in the last two seasons who show they can play Champions League and Premier League is City and Arsenal. The best way to judge us in four weeks.”
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