Liverpool officially sacks Arne Slot

Liverpool have officially fired Arne Slot only twelve months after he led the team from Merseyside to the Premier League title.

The decision was taken by the owning Fenway Sports Group (FSG) following a full evaluation of the disappointing 2025‑26 season, bringing an end to the two‑year tenure of the Dutch coach at Anfield.

An announcement from Liverpool confirmed that Slot is leaving his head‑coach role with immediate effect. This is an outcome few expected when, exactly a year ago, he was lifting the Premier League trophy in his debut season after succeeding the legendary Jurgen Klopp.

The 2024‑25 campaign was once considered Slot’s fairy tale. The 1978‑born manager quickly made his mark by preserving the strength Liverpool had under Klopp while introducing fresh tactical ideas. Winning the English Premier League in his first season earned him praise as the ideal successor.

However, everything changed completely in the past season. Liverpool finished only fifth in the Premier League with 60 points, their worst record in a decade. Across all competitions, “The Reds” suffered 19 defeats, marking one of the most forgettable seasons since Klopp took over the club in 2015.

Difficulties kept piling up for the Anfield side. The greatest tragedy occurred last summer when striker Diogo Jota died in a traffic accident in Spain. Beyond that emotional blow, Liverpool also faced numerous squad issues after a transfer window that cost £440 million.

Many new signings did not live up to expectations, while key players such as Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister all suffered a drop in form. A series of long‑term injuries also prevented Liverpool from maintaining the consistency needed in the title race.

The wave of fan protests grew increasingly strong, especially after a run of nine defeats in twelve matches during the autumn. Heavy losses to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and PSV seriously eroded confidence in Slot. Even public comments from Mohamed Salah at the end of the season, echoed by several teammates on social media, were seen as signs that the Dutch manager’s position was no longer secure.

According to multiple reports in England, Liverpool have identified Andoni Iraola as their top candidate to replace Slot. The Spanish manager just completed an impressive season with Bournemouth, helping the club finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League. Iraola is also being tracked by Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen, but Liverpool is believed to be the most attractive option because of their Champions League spot for next season.