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Report: What Richard Hughes is now doing as Liverpool consider replacing Arne Slot as manager

Arne Slot’s future as Liverpool manager remains uncertain, with Richard Hughes assessing the situation going into the summer.

The Dutchman won the Premier League in his first campaign at the helm, but 2025/26 has been something of a disaster.

Liverpool fans wanted Slot gone in 2025 during a run of nine defeats from 12 across all competitions.

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There was even talk about an interim manager being appointed in the remainder of 2025/26, though that now looks unlikely.

Liverpool still analysing if Arne Slot will remain as manager

However, with Xabi Alonso’s name lurking in the background and Liverpool still underperforming, question marks around the 47-year-old remain.

The Reds are currently on course to miss out on Champions League football this season, sitting sixth in the Premier League table ahead of the latest gameweek.

West Ham United are up next, and a strong performance, not just a win, may be needed for Slot to continue appeasing the higher-ups.

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Commenting for FlashScore, Dean Jones has explained that: “Slot understands that sporting director Richard Hughes is leading a comprehensive analysis of the overall situation, weighing up team development, progression and performance data alongside the results”

It’s added that momentum, not just results, is what matters, and a positive display against West Ham would represent more than just three points.

But for the time being, Liverpool chiefs are still assessing whether or not Slot is the right man to take the club forward.

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Xabi Alonso pictured during Real Madrid's La Liga match against Real Betis at the Bernabeu (Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto).

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto

The cost of sacking Arne Slot

If Liverpool do end up finishing outside of the Champions League places this season, Jamie Carragher thinks Slot will be sacked.

At present, they are three points adrift of Manchester United and behind fifth-place Chelsea on goal difference.

Even fifth, which is likely to be enough for Champions League qualification, wouldn’t exactly be a great season for a club that just won the league.

With uncertainty surrounding the manager, we spoke to finance expert Adam Williams about the cost of sacking Slot earlier this season.

He told RTK: “The conventional wisdom is that, in order to sack a manager, you have to pay out the remainder of their contract. On that basis, you’d be looking at £15m or thereabouts to give Slot the boot. However, the reality is usually a lot more nuanced than that. There will likely be provisions in his contract that protect the club if, for example, if they are drastically underperforming on the pitch. There might also be a pre-agreed termination clause. These factors can work in the manager’s favour or the club’s – there’s no way of knowing for sure without having the contract in front of us.”

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