In his debut season in English football, Arne Slot defied all external expectations of a Liverpool collapse following the end of Jurgen Klopp's reign. Only a year on from the euphoric high of Liverpool's Premier League winning campaign, Arne Slot finds himself facing a crucial summer to save his job at Anfield.
After a miserable season for Liverpool and Arne Slot, it is difficult to find anybody associated with the football club that isn't glad that the season is finally over. The Liverpool hierarchy will hold their annual summer review to address what went wrong and how to improve results next season.
Despite media pressure and a growing unpopularity with supporters, it is likely that Arne Slot will be given the opportunity to start next season as the Liverpool head coach, as per Yahoo Sports. However, with just one year remaining on the three year contract he signed in 2024, he is fighting for his future regardless.
Let's look at some crucial steps Arne Slot should take to save his job at Liverpool.
#1 Find a way to replace Mohamed Salah
For the first time in nine years Liverpool will begin a season without Mohamed Salah. Replacing an all time great like Salah would be difficult for any club, but with mounting pressure on Arne Slot, it is not a decision he can afford to get wrong. If Slot is to prove the doubters wrong, then how he chooses to replace the Egyptian king will be vital.
If Liverpool's form in 2026 is a sign of things to come, Arne Slot may quickly find himself out of a job next season. Liverpool have failed to win any of the nine league games that Salah has not started in 2026.
In their 2024-25 league winning campaign Salah's contribution was pivotal, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists, making him involved in 54.65% of Liverpool's league goals. Any hopes of Slot returning his team to a title challenging level will rely heavily on replacing the Egyptian's output.
Clean Sweep: Salah finished the 2024/25 season with the most goals and assists in the Premier League.
Clean Sweep: Salah finished the 2024/25 season with the most goals and assists in the Premier League.
By the time Liverpool return for pre-season, Arne Slot will be glad to have the drama surrounding Mo Salah's exit behind him. He may also take some comfort in the fact he no longer has to worry about what Salah might post on social media.
It is expected that Liverpool will sign at least one right winger to replace Salah, but it is both unlikely and unfair to expect any new addition to replicate Salah's extraordinary output. Arne Slot will hope that a large amount of replacing Salah was completed last summer.
The combined outlay of £225 million for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak was intended to ease the burden on Salah and phase in the next generation of Liverpool's attack. So far, the massive outlay has failed to pay dividends and any plans that were made last season failed miserably. Neither of the duo made their mark in their debut campaigns and there are still more questions than answers around their suitability to Liverpool.
There is some mitigation that must be allowed for the pair and perhaps even reason for Arne Slot to be optimistic for next season. Alexander Isak has been plagued with fitness issues, arriving from Newcastle United unfit and then suffering a broken leg when he finally looked like getting up to speed. In total, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have played together for a total of 814 Premier League minutes, less than 10 games. Florian Wirtz has been more available than Isak, but has struggled to adapt in a disjointed Liverpool side.
With Hugo Ekitike likely sidelined until 2027, improvement from Isak and Wirtz is required next season. Isak's record of 54 goals in 86 Premier League games for Newcastle serves as a reminder of the Swede's goalscoring ability. Keeping Alexander Isak fit and finding a system that serves him and Wirtz will likely be the most effective way that Arne Slot can replace Salah.
#2 Improve first-half results and reset players' mentality
Arne Slot inherited a side revered as 'mentality monsters' who were renowned for dealing with adversity. The statistics for Liverpool's first half performances in the 2025-26 season are damning and reflect the significant decline of this mentality.
After 38 games, Liverpool have been drawing at half time, 16 times, and behind nine times, with 12 of those draws being 0-0. In addition to this, Liverpool gained just five points from losing positions, - a shocking decline from the 23 points recovered last season. If Arne Slot is to have any hope of salvaging his Liverpool career, figuring out a way to get his side on the front foot earlier in games is essential.
Game-defining late goals were a feature for the entirety of Liverpool's season, both positively and negatively. Liverpool scored 20 goals after the 75th minute and conceded 17 in the same time period. An equally concerning pattern has developed in the opening 30 minutes of games, with the Reds more likely to concede than score- scoring nine and conceding 10. It is a pattern that simply cannot continue into next season as Liverpool have found themselves chasing games in the second 45 minutes far too often.
Highs and Lows: Too many of Liverpool's games have been decided in the last 15 minutes.
Highs and Lows: Too many of Liverpool's games have been decided in the last 15 minutes.
The mental fragility of the current Liverpool team was further exposed by their inability to pick up results away from home. On their travels, the Reds managed just one win against their top 10 rivals and just seven overall. In order for there to be any improvement, the head coach must instil the belief in his players that they can win football matches in any place and in any way possible. Dealing with adversity is part of football and Liverpool must find a way to handle this much better.
#3 Develop a tactical identity
Arne Slot spent most of the season batting away heavy criticism of his sides style of play. They started the season too open, then became too defensive and then ended the season too passive.
For nine years under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool had a clear tactical identity as a high pressing, high intensity attacking team. During Slot's first season he was widely praised for his minor tactical tweaks from game to game which provided Liverpool with control over their opponent. Any sense of control or tactical identity has now completely vanished. Slot must figure out a style of play that will inspire both his players and the Liverpool fans. Liverpool Football Club thrives when their players and fans are in unison and it is the responsibility of the Head Coach to make that possible.
Conceding 53 league goals is unacceptable for Liverpool, so Slot is going to have to start with his side's structure off the ball. Liverpool have been plagued with injury issues at right back, having to play Dominick Szbozslai and Curtis Jones there at various times throughout the season.
If Jeremie Frimpong is no longer viewed as a right back, then Liverpool have to go into the market to find a permanent solution for this problem position. There is no guarantee that Connor Bradley will return to his previous levels after suffering a serious knee injury and his injury history suggests that he cannot be relied upon as the only option at right back.
There has been a lot of conversation surrounding the absense of 'heavy metal football' and Liverpool's lack of pressing. Arne Slot has been defiant that he sets his team up to press, but concerningly Liverpool ranked as the worst team in the Premier League for tackles won- 307. Physicality has become increasingly important in the Premier League and Liverpool's inability to win the ball back anywhere on the pitch has left the defence exposed. A tactical restructure is required to improve Liverpool's off the ball performance.
Jamie Carragher was critical of Liverpool's midfield from the first game of the season against Bournemouth. Bournemouth were able to run through the centre of Liverpool's midfield far too easily and it is difficult to suggest that aspect of their game has improved. Arne Slot adapted his midfield structure to accomodate Florian Wirtz by positioning Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis MacAllister as a double pivot.
In the title winning campaign Gravenberch thrived in a deeper role, however this season he has been given more license to go forward which has left Liverpool awfully exposed. This summer should be the one where Liverpool finally sign a designated holding midfielder who will help break up play and protect the defence better than it has been.
Attacking fluidity has also been an issue for the majority of the campaign. Liverpool have lacked pace and directness in wide areas, a key component of Arne Slot's desired style of play. In the 2024-25 season Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz completed 54 and 52 succesful take ons respectively. By comparison, the highest total this season by any Liverpool player is 39 by Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool will likely use the transfer window to recruit young and fast wingers that can help Slot return to his favoured system. An area which Liverpool have excelled in is progressive passes, only Manchester City completed more than the Reds. This suggests that getting the ball forward has not been an issue, but the end product from their attackers has been severly lacking. Arne Slot may be optimistic that with new additions out wide and a few tweaks to the defensive structure of his midfield, he can return Liverpool to a title challenging side.
Salah and Gakpo have both struggled for form on the wings.
Salah and Gakpo have both struggled for form on the wings.
#4 Improve set pieces
The Premier League season was defined and then decided by set pieces. Arsenal were crowned champions with one game remaining after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth, but it was their prowess from set pieces that ultimately won them their first league title in 22 years.
Over the entirety of the campaign Arsenal scored 24 goals from set pieces, including 18 from corners. Based on Liverpool's overall performances, it seems ludicrous to suggest that better defending from set pieces could have made them a contender to Arsenal. But, Liverpool conceded 20 goals from set pieces, which made up 37.7% of their total goals conceded. A total goal swing of 44 between Liverpool and Arsenal. If Arne Slot is to bridge the gap to Arsenal next season, then defending set pieces is an area that has to be addressed.
Liverpool's fortunes from attacking set pieces did see a slight improvement following the sacking of Aaron Briggs in January, but there is a lot more work to be done at defending set pieces. Arne Slot seems likely to recieve a boost in that department as it is touted that Etienne Reijnen, Slot's former analyst and technical advisor at Feyernoord is set to join Liverpool this summer.
It was intended that Reijnen would join Slot when he arrived at Liverpool, but work permit issues denied him the opportunity. His fellow Dutchman was responsible for set pieces in Holland and some familiarity behind the scenes might spark a much needed revival from set pieces.
Set Piece woes: Liverpool have struggled to deal with set pieces.
Set Piece woes: Liverpool have struggled to deal with set pieces.
#5 Resolve fitness issues
Before joining Liverpool, Arne Slot and his fitness coach Ruben Peeters were renowned for their ability to keep players fit. A large part of the success during Slot's debut season can be attributed to the consistent availability of Liverpool's top players.
One of the few negatives during Jurgen Klopp's reign was the persistent injuries that were picked up throughout seasons. Klopp effectively lost the ability to compete in at least two seasons when major injury crisis hampered his key players. This is an area where Slot and his fitness staff made major improvements in their first year, reducing the number of games missed due to injury by 64.3%.
However, this number has slightly increased once again this season. In the 2024-25 season Liverpool players missed 129 games due to injury and in the 2025-26 season they missed 239 games. In addition to this, the visible deterioration of players towards the end of games has become painful to watch and has often been punished by the conceding of late goals. It was right that the head coach and his fitness staff recieved praise for last seasons success, but they should also be taking some responsibility for the failures of this season.
It is difficult to judge how much the tragic death of Diogo Jota impacted Liverpool's season as a whole, but the resulting distrupted pre-season did not prepare Liverpool adequately for the season ahead. Slot and Peeters must work to give the players a fitness reset in the summer.
Jeremie Frimpong's recurring fitness issues raise questions over the current fitness regime.
Jeremie Frimpong's recurring fitness issues raise questions over the current fitness regime.
The task ahead for Arne Slot is by no means an easy one. For most people the easiest and most popular decision would be to sack the Head Coach and start again. Liverpool's hierarchy appear to feel different, so all eyes will be on Arne Slot from the beginning of next season. Winning the Liverpool fans back may be the most difficult challenge of his managerial career, but if he deals with the issues outlined and gets Liverpool playing the Liverpool way, the doubters may be believers once again.