Liverpool may be nine games unbeaten, but stability is not the word behind the scenes.
According to Anfield Watch, via Anfield Index, a serious internal rift has developed between head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. It’s one that began in the summer and continues to shape the club’s direction, with Mohamed Salah’s recent outburst an example of the tension that has been brewing all season.
Slot pushed for immediate reinforcements, prioritising proven readiness as he sought to impose his system. Liverpool’s hierarchy, led by Hughes, stood firm on a long-held principle: the club functions as a structure, not a personality.
Recruitment, development and squad evolution are meant to serve a long-term vision, not short-term certainty. Salah is on the outside of long-term plans for the future with it more unlikely than it was before after the recent fallout that he will sign a new contract after his recent record deal.
Youth pathway clash puts Liverpool’s identity at risk
The flashpoint, Anfield Watch reports, was the handling of academy players who impressed during pre-season.
Hughes and his recruitment team wanted to accelerate their integration, viewing youth development as a core pillar of Liverpool’s model. Slot took a different view, preferring loans or external signings and expressing concerns over readiness.
This was a hallmark of Jurgen Klopp’s success. It was a large part of why Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose talent primed him for success anyway, was able to become so integral to the team at such a young age.
Hughes refused to shift course, insisting the academy pathway must be protected. Slot’s reluctance to regularly use those players has reportedly since widened the divide, despite efforts to align philosophies through joint training initiatives and internal restructuring.
While results have largely held, performances have been largely poor with moments of brilliance to paper over some rather alarming cracks.
Defensive control has improved slightly, but attacking fluency has suffered, leaving supporters unconvinced and pressure mounting. As performances wobble, the reported internal disagreement and obvious signs of tension become harder to ignore.
Liverpool now face a defining question: is Arne Slot in danger of losing his job?