Who challenged Dominik Szoboszlai for Player of the Season? Should Arne Slot be sacked? This Is Anfield’s writers give their verdict on Liverpool FC in 2025/26.
The Reds’ campaign was far less fruitful than we expected last August, with the defence of their Premier League title quickly going wrong.
That said, there were still sporadic good moments and some standout performers, and our writers have been asked to answer six questions about the season and Arne Slot‘s future.
Here are their answers – who do you agree with most?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player of the Season: Virgil van Dijk. Anyone who has to put up with playing every minute of that season deserves an award.
Favourite goal of the season: Robbo vs. Palace. Great buildup and some finish! Lovely to see.
Most disappointing player: All the new signings. Each for different reasons.
Most disappointing thing about the season: Complete and utter failure to show any signs of improvement or confidence that the coach knows how to improve things.
Would you sack Slot? Yes, six months ago.
Which positions are the priority this summer? In no particular order: two attackers, a creative midfielder, a more combative midfielder and an actual right-back.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player of the Season: Hard to look anywhere but Dominik Szoboszlai, for me.
Granted, he did not have much competition, but he was a key reason we qualified for the Champions League.
Favourite goal of the season: Rio’s at Newcastle. A special moment before the season went into freefall.
Most disappointing player: Alexander Isak. Really unfortunate with the timing of his broken leg, but he put himself in the position to be undercooked coming into the season and he never recovered from that.
Most disappointing thing about the season: That the season just felt ‘meh’. Liverpool were just really hard to watch, there was little to no enjoyment.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Would you sack Slot? Yes. If I could see there was a vision or plan in motion but we just weren’t there yet, I’d be a lot more forgiving.
But there has not been an identity other than relying on a ‘moment of brilliance’ for more than a year now.
I just don’t see how it changes with a ‘few more signings’.
Which positions are the priority this summer? Every single one? Wingers are an obvious need with Mohamed Salah leaving and Luis Diaz never being replaced, but we desperately need a specialist No. 6.
A right-back must also be high on the list!
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player of the Season: Szoboszlai.
While he has failed to judge the mood at times with some of his social media posts and post-game antics (Man City in the FA Cup), he has been undeniably the Reds’ best this season.
Favourite goal of the season: It has to be Van Dijk’s late winner in the derby.
Rio’s goal against Newcastle felt amazing given the nature of the game and the fact we still thought Liverpool were good at football, but nothing can beat a last-gasp goal against Everton!
Most disappointing player: Alexander Isak.
This isn’t a personal slant at Isak – injuries and being isolated up front have made it difficult for him – but if you sign a striker for £125m, four goals isn’t enough.
Most disappointing thing about the season: The failure to show any sign of improvement towards the end of the season.
Yes, injuries may have made this tough, but we expect something to get behind, whether that be battling performances or a player getting into form. There has simply been nothing.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives final instructions for head coach Arne Slot before coming on for his first appearance since January during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Would you sack Slot? Only if it’s for a manager Liverpool are certain about.
I do think we will improve next season, but it is now a long way back to the top.
Only time will tell if swerving Alonso was the right choice, but you can’t help feel he would have been appointment to unite the club.
If we are to make a change, I want the club to have been planning it.
Which positions are the priority this summer? Highest priority are exciting wingers/attackers who have an eye for goal (just a younger Mo Salah, if that’s not too much to ask) and a tough midfielder.
Above all, characters who are going to be unbelievably committed!
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player of the Season: Szoboszlai
Favourite goal of the season: Ngumoha at Newcastle, because by the time Van Dijk scored at Everton I’d lost all faith in this team!
When Rio fired home at St James’ Park I still thought we’d win the title.
Most disappointing player: Alexis Mac Allister – his drop-off was incredible. I thought Cody Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong were awful too.
Most disappointing thing about the season: Just how tedious the football was. It was genuinely hard to stay focused watching them at times.
Would you sack Slot? Absolutely. I’m all for clubs showing faith in managers, but I just cannot see a future where Slot turns this mess around.
Which positions are the priority this summer? Both wings, central midfield and right-back, in any order!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike scores his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player of the Season: Van Dijk. It has been an average season by the Dutchman’s own previous standards, but he was still one of the best centre-backs in the league.
Favourite goal of the season: Hugo Ekitike‘s second vs. Newcastle at home, from the Milos Kerkez assist.
Most disappointing player: Isak. Never recovered from his lack of pre-season after not training at Newcastle.
That lack of a base of fitness work to start the season was followed by an injury-hit campaign, and the two are likely linked.
Apart from a couple of moments with Florian Wirtz, he never looked part of the overall plan, but that aspect is not his fault, as few players did in 25/26.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk looks dejected after conceding the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Most disappointing thing about the season: The lack of transition from Jurgen Klopp‘s team.
It feels like recruitment methods and tactics have been completely changed this past year, rather than seeing any continuation and building from a position of strength that took years to achieve.
As good as the new players may turn out to be, none of them look like the numerous leaders the previous dressing room had, so it seems like something has changed in the recruitment process as well as the on-pitch tactics.
Would you sack Slot? I’ve edged increasingly towards yes as the season went on.
Just as Slot should be credited, perhaps more than he has been, for his role in fine-tuning Klopp’s team and making them title-winners, he should be criticised for the downturn this season.
Regardless of personnel, a manager should give us an idea of their plan to turn things around, and there is no indication of what kind of football this Liverpool team want to play in order to do that.
They were lucky to qualify for the Champions League in the end, and they no longer look like they can win big games.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Which positions are the priority this summer? Both midfield positions. They still haven’t replaced Fabinho, so a defensive midfielder is a priority.
The team also lacks a progressive passer in Trent’s absence. Wingers on both sides are also needed, and ideally, one who can also play through the middle.
The number of positions you can point to as needing improvement also reflects recent poor recruitment despite the money spent.
• Let us know your end-of-season awards in the comments section.