Walk On

‘The story of an unforgettable season’ Virgil van Dijk

The definitive chronicle of Liverpool's footballing renaissance under Arne Slot, filled with exclusive interviews and unparalleled insight

An engrossing and inspiring account of a new manager’s remarkable rise to prominence.

Arne Slot arrived at Liverpool FC with little fanfare but a burning ambition. As a relatively unknown figure in English football, his appointment was met with scepticism. How could he hope to step into the shoes of the club’s greatest manager of the modern era? High drama and era-defining results would follow; unprecedented achievements, and pain too. But what was it like from the inside?

James Pearce, Liverpool correspondent for the Athletic, draws on exclusive interviews and unparalleled behind-the-scenes insight to tell an unmissable story of a season, and a Premier League victory, like no other.

From Slot’s beginnings as ‘The Bergkamp of Bergentheim’ to Liverpool’s deft use of player data; from the high drama of turning-point matches to the backroom negotiations around keeping talent like Mohammad Salah at Anfield, Pearce retells Liverpool’s dramatic recent history in enthralling detail and at addictive pace.

Walk On is the book for any Liverpool fan to understand just how Slot transformed Liverpool into Premier League champions, and how he intends to keep them there.

With an exclusive interview with Liverpool chairman Tom Werner, the book also features conversations with Arne Slot, chief executive Billy Hogan, captain Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Harvey Elliott, former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, former director of research Ian Graham, and a number of ex-Liverpool players including Sander Westerveld and Dirk Kuyt.

About the Author

James Pearce is Liverpool Correspondent for the Athletic, which he joined after fourteen years at the Liverpool Echo. He has spent well over a decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Renowned for his deep insight into Liverpool FC, Pearce's reputation for telling nuanced, human-centered stories ensures has earned him a huge social media profile. He can be found on X as @JamesPearceLFC. This is his first book.