Arne Slot's sacking left English football shocked. Liverpool looked set to go into a third season with the 47-year-old at the helm despite only just limping over the line to Champions League football.
Having won the Premier League just over 12 months ago, Slot lost faith among the Anfield fan base and apparently the hierarchy at the club. Fans were surprised to see the news after the Merseysiders appeared to be working on transfer targets for Slot.
So had he remained in the dugout, how would Liverpool's starting XI look next season? Well, based on reports that emerged before and after his dismissal, we've put together what the Anfield crowd could've expected if Slot wasn't sacked.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Denzel Dumfries
Alisson Becker was being linked with a move away from the club alongside Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. In fact, worried supporters thought his departure had been leaked on social media. However, reports now suggest the club are keen to retain the Brazil number one. It's hard to imagine Slot would've been opposed to that idea.
Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez would retain their places in the first-choice back four. The latter struggled in the early stages of his Anfield career, but started finding his feet next to the captain and was signed for big money last summer.
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Ibrahima Konate's departure and the fitness issues of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley mean that the Reds will need to dip into the transfer market when it comes to the right-hand side of the defence. Jeremy Jacquet will arrive for £60 million, but a more experienced option was being explored.
Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke was reportedly contacted before Slot was sacked, but now doesn't appear to be a serious target. Had the Dutchman stayed in his role, there's every chance he'd be bringing in his compatriot. Another Netherlands star linked with the club before Slot left was Denzel Dumfries. The Inter Milan defender could've been the third Dutchman in the backline next term.
Midfield
Dominik Szoboszlai
The midfield would've had a very similar feel to it. Ryan Gravenberch was clearly very highly rated by Slot. The former Ajax and Bayern Munich midfielder looked like a new man in the 2024-25 title-winning campaign, before being rewarded with a huge pay rise in 2026.
He looked likely to be partnered in the engine room by England international Adam Wharton. That deal has gone a bit quiet until Andoni Iraola is confirmed as the new head coach, but the English controller was certainly on the radar under Slot's watch.
Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai is perhaps the only man to come out of Slot's second season with any real credit. The club's Player of the Year would probably have moved back into the number 10 role he performed in the manager's debut term and look to press from the front.
Forwards
Yan Diomande
Szoboszlai's presence as the attacking midfielder would then lead to Florian Wirtz moving into the left channel. Slot appeared reluctant to move him out wide after his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen, but a new midfielder would make it much easier.
Leading the line would, ideally, be Alexander Isak. The Swedish talisman only managed 22 appearances in all competitions following his move from Newcastle last summer. Slot never got the best out of Isak, but would've been relying on him to make up for Hugo Ekitike's long-term absence and Mohamed Salah's exit.
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That leaves one Egyptian King-shaped hole in the front line. Salah has been an ever-present on the right flank since 2017, and it was always going to be hard work replacing him. Yan Diomande still looks like the most likely contender, with the young Ivorian marked as a serious target for several months now. Slot was determined to get some pace on the wings to help his team going forward, and Diomande certainly brings that in buckets.
Liverpool's 2026-27 Line-Up if Arne Slot Stayed
Liverpool 2026-27 XI If Arne Slot Had Stayed
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 04-06-26.