Having arrived in the summer of 2024 and then led Liverpool to Premier League glory in his debut season, not many would have predicted Arne Slot would be sacked after his second campaign at Anfield. However, it was clear to see standards had slipped in his final months.
The Reds won their league title with 84 points in 2024/25, but picked up 24 fewer this time around, dropping to fifth in the table – no team in the division had a bigger deficit. That poor form alone was probably enough to see the Dutchman sacked, but it wouldn't have helped that he appeared to be losing the dressing room.
This was no clearer than when Mohamed Salah openly criticised the team's displays under Slot, calling for a 'heavy metal' style of football as opposed to what the 47-year-old was delivering at Anfield. The post was liked by a considerable number of Liverpool stars, and a new report has revealed why some of the squad may have been glad to see their former coach depart.
Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah
According to SPORT BILD, via Anfield Watch, Slots 'arrogant' attitude towards some of his players left many feeling alienated. The eye-opening report claims that he didn't handle some of the summer signings with the most grace when things weren't panning out as planned.
“One problem was his handling of his star players,” the report explained. “While he was praised at the start of the season for his sensitive approach following the tragic death of star striker Diogo Jota, he crossed the line elsewhere."
It then claims that "objective criticism became mixed with arrogance and personal barbs." before noting:
“For example, he needled summer signings with questions like, '"Did you win the Premier League?'
“When analysing players with Bundesliga experience, he made comments along the lines of, 'You can play like that in Germany.'"
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It's no wonder that this supposedly 'didn't go down well' with many of the players. After all, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong both arrived from German club Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, while Hugo Ekitike joined from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Not only that, but the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo also arrived in England directly from German clubs, while record signing Alexander Isak also played in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.
What's Next For Slot as Iraola Joins Liverpool
Andoni Iraola
Despite apparent issues in the dressing room, Liverpool had planned to stick with Slot before having a sudden change of heart at the end of the season. Reports suggest the Duthcman was quite surprised by the call and had expected to remain in charge.
Despite a poor season, many clubs will have an eye on the 47-year-old who is now a free agent. AC Milan were immediately linked with him after the news broke, while there have been some suggestions that Slot would be open to taking the Dutch national team job, should it become vacant after the 2026 World Cup.
Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan has claimed: “If Ronald Koeman steps down after the World Cup…there is a vacancy at the Dutch national team. “I think Arne Slot is very, very much up for that; he’s probably the ideal candidate.
As for Liverpool, they've wasted no time in moving on, quickly appointing former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as their new head coach.