More claims have been made about Arne Slot's time in charge of Liverpool, with new reports suggesting he didn't get off to the best of starts with his new signings
10:44, 05 Jun 2026Updated 10:44, 05 Jun 2026
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
More details are emerging of Arne Slot's time in charge of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot is claimed to have annoyed some of his former Liverpool players before his exit from Anfield, having reportedly aimed “arrogant and personal barbs” at some of the club’s summer signings.
Slot was fired as head coach last weekend, having overseen a poor second season after winning the Premier League title in his first year at the club.
Andoni Iraola has now been confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, with the former Bournemouth boss unveiled on Thursday, and more details are beginning to emerge on Slot’s departure. Reports in Germany suggest the Dutchman didn’t get off to the best of starts with his new signings last summer.
According to Bild, Slot got off on the wrong foot with some of his new arrivals, with claims that his criticisms had become “mixed with arrogance and personal barbs”.
It’s said that Slot asked his new signings: “Did you win the Premier League?” while also joking: “You can play like that in Germany” to some of them. Liverpool signed three players from the Bundesliga last summer - Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
A number of other players had also plied their trade in Germany previously, including Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, while record signing Alexander Isak also had a spell with Borussia Dortmund.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Florian Wirtz of Liverpool with Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 08, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Arne Slot reportedly didn't get off to a good start with Florian Wirtz(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Although relationships behind the scenes were reportedly not off to the best start, Slot did repeatedly defend his players, including Wirtz, publicly. The German international endured a mixed first season on Merseyside, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists.
“His improvement - and he was already an elite player - will only continue,” Slot said on Wirtz last month. “He is only 22, so that makes complete sense. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25 or 26, but he is already an elite player and he can only become better.
“That is the beauty of the signings we made last summer. All of them are of a certain age where we can only expect them to get better.”
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With Slot now gone, Iraola will hope he can make a better first impression on his new players. The 43-year-old has been confirmed as the Reds’ new head coach, and he will be officially introduced to his squad during pre-season next month.
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"I think Liverpool gives me the chance to coach top players, and top players give you the chance to fight for titles and to win titles," Iraola said.
"Obviously when you arrive at a place, you cannot promise everything. You cannot promise. But it’s true that I understand where I’m coming and what is expected. I’m ready for the challenge."