Arne Slot's time at Liverpool has come to an end after two years in charge and one Premier League title. The Dutchman's second season at Anfield didn't go to plan, and the hierarchy have decided to go in a new direction.
Taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer of 2024 was never going to be an easy task for any manager in the world, but Slot took to the role effortlessly and steered the Merseysiders to their second Premier League title. Huge turnover in the playing squad and the tragic death of Diogo Jota complicated matters in his second term.
Despite factors out of his control, the feeling among the fan base was that the 47-year-old didn't meet expectations when it came to standards and performances on the pitch. Had the Anfield faithful not turned on him, it's likely the league-winning boss would've been given more time to turn things around.
Arne Slot
While Slot paid a heavy price for the inconsistencies of his second campaign at the club and started receiving heavy criticism from British media, the press in his homeland has backed him strongly. Media outlets have been left fuming with the Reds' decision and haven't shied away from making that clear.
De Telegraaf have accused Liverpool of becoming a 'hire and fire' club, while simultaneously 'throwing their own culture overboard'. Slot is the first-ever title-winning manager to be given his marching orders by the English giants.
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Meanwhile, Voetbal International did acknowledge that the second season fell well below expectations, but still claim that this marked a 'premature end to a period that began with so much promise'.
Slot's sacking took everyone by surprise, with the announcement catching many off guard on Saturday morning. It appears those in the Netherlands were less than impressed. But it isn't just the decision-makers at Anfield being criticised.
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Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah
A large portion of the blame for Slot's exit has been placed at the door of three key players. Mohamed Salah publicly fell out with his manager after being left on the bench during a 3-3 draw against Leeds United.
After an explosive interview, in which he claimed to have no relationship with Slot, the Egyptian created a divide in the fan base with his comments. De Volkskrant labelled the 33-year-old as Slot's 'biggest problem'. The manager's 'authority had been undermined' by his own player, according to the same outlet.
Salah even caused chaos in his final week as a Liverpool player, slamming the style of play Slot had instilled. But he wasn't the only one who needs to bear some responsibility for the way things have gone.
AD weren't impressed with big-money signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who they called 'major disappointments'. There was a lot of excitement at the club less than 12 months ago when these superstar names joined but they have 'barely delivered and proved to be a costly miscalculation in hindsight'.