Being first up to replace one of the greatest managers in a football club’s history was always going to be a tough gig. Yet Arne Slot initially revelled under the spotlight of replacing Jurgen Klopp.
He took to the Anfield stage with calmness, authority and clarity.
The audience had its initial doubts but was quickly won over, providing the support that helped steer Liverpool towards only a second English league title in 35 years.
How quickly things can change. A year on, the atmosphere has turned sour, with Liverpool not only failing to mount any form of title challenge but also merely limping into the Champions League places.
Patience has run thin.
The lack of improvement in certain areas frustratingly conspicuous. Few in that audience would now mind if Slot exited stage left, deserving of appreciative applause for his efforts, but with a mutual agreement that the performance had lost its punch.
Jurgen Klopp proved he could bounce back from adversity
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The round of boos following the uninspiring effort against Chelsea has again opened up debate over whether Slot’s reign can continue, especially with such an important summer rebuild imminent.
Fuel has been added to the fire with the news that Xabi Alonso, long expected to return to Merseyside at some point to lead a team he graced brilliantly as a player, is instead heading to south-west London and Chelsea.
There remain several arguments for and against keeping the Dutchman for a third season. One for Slot’s retention has drawn on the comparison between his attempted title defence with what occurred under Klopp in the 2020/21 campaign.
After previously hitting 99 points and winning the title by a huge 18-point margin, the side dipped massively, ending up 30 points worse off. Indeed, there was a mammoth 35-point swing to Manchester City, that year’s Champions.
Win %: Klopp vs. Slot
Manager / Period P W D L Win %
Arne Slot (Overall) 112 66 17 29 58.9%
Arne Slot (2025/26) 56 28 8 20 50%
Jurgen Klopp (Overall) 491 305 99 87 62.1%
Stats accurate as of May 18, 2026.
That season, Klopp experienced an almighty injury crisis in defence, which is comparable to the injury misfortunes Slot has had, particularly in attack.
Indeed, before the second leg of the PSG Champions League quarter-final, Slot had only been able to get Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike on the same pitch for a total of 88 minutes.
In other words, major hangovers – intensified by other misfortunes – following the highs of a title win can happen, even to the very best. If Klopp was given more time, why can’t Slot?
Unfortunately for those loyally fighting Slot’s corner, the pieces to this particular argument simply do not stack up.
Arne Slot does not have track record to instil confidence
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, December 28, 2021: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp waves to the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Liverpool FC at the King Power Stadium. Leicester City won 1-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Firstly, the numbers still aren’t favourable. With just one game left of the season at the time of writing, this Liverpool iteration will already fall below Klopp’s total of 20 wins in that 2020/21 campaign and have already lost three more matches, as well as having scored six goals fewer.
It’s not great at the other end of the pitch either, with 10 more goals conceded. At best, Liverpool will end up seven points adrift and one place worse off. The comparison is hardly shining a glowing light of hopeful optimism on Slot.
Secondly, and more pertinently, Klopp had earned both the trust and the right to turn things around. And whilst it may seem harsh, Slot simply has not.
In fact, the only evidence fans currently have is that he doesn’t have the answers to the questions that have been facing him for many months.
Klopp Recovery: 20/21 vs. 21/22
Season Pos W D L GD Pts
2020/21 (Crisis) 3rd 20 9 9 +26 69
2021/22 (Bounce Back) 2nd 28 8 2 +68 92
Even before arriving at Liverpool, Klopp had proven that he could deal with challenging circumstances at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
With Mainz, Klopp led them to 11th in their first-ever Bundesliga season with the league’s smallest budget, a feat he repeated the season after. Due to the great success he achieved with Dortmund, it’s easy to forget that Klopp’s seven-year spell started with a side who had just finished 13th.
Despite having one of the league’s youngest squads, within two years they were in the Champions League. Within three, they were German champions. At Liverpool, Champions League redemption was found only a year after the painful final defeat in 2018.
The dominant League win in 2020 also arrived only a year after Klopp had experienced the pain of seeing his wonderful side achieve 97 points, lose only once but still finish second. It was evident he was a man who could both ride the wave of success and face down the threat of adversity in equal measure.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Having moved pretty seamlessly up the managerial ladder from Cambuur to AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord and then to Liverpool, Slot has shown that he can achieve success in the right environment.
However, there is little evidence so far that a coach who had incredibly never lost two league games in a row before heading to Merseyside knows how to either help a squad deal with huge disappointment or rebuild when the previously sturdy walls are beginning to crumble.
At this point, one could point out that Slot has become an unfortunate victim of his own success in his relatively short managerial career.
It will be a leap of faith to keep Arne Slot at the helm
Arne Slot of Feyenoord celebrates with the Eredivisie trophy during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Go Ahead Eagles at Feijenoord Stadion on May 14, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Photo by Peter Lous/Orange Pictures)
How is it fair to use a lack of past failures as a stick to beat someone with? And what about the remarkable job he did, basically creating a new squad at Feyenoord in the summer of 2022, before leading that group to only Feyenoord’s second Eredivisie title this century?
For the former, fans can highlight that it is the scale of the sudden drop-off at the first real sign of adversity that brings Slot’s lack of experience into sharp relief.
Yes, there have been injuries, a muddled summer transfer window and the devastating impact of the loss of Diogo Jota. Yet to be at least 22 points, eight wins and 24 goals worse off than last season – especially considering the big signings brought into the club – is simply not good enough.
As for the latter, as big as Feyenoord are in the Netherlands, the weight of expectation at Anfield compared to De Kuip is a completely different beast.
Arne Slot Liverpool Contract Expiry: The State of Play
**Arne Slot**‘s current Liverpool contract expires on June 30, 2027. The Dutchman signed a three-year deal upon his arrival from Feyenoord in the summer of 2024.
Joined: June 2024Today: May 2026Expires: June 2027
Slot is currently 23 months into his 36-month contract.
From dealing with set-pieces to an openness in midfield and disjointed link-up in attack, the same issues have hindered Liverpool for most of the season.
Opponents have found ways to counteract a style of play that was so effective previously, and Slot hasn’t found a consistent way to respond.
It could be argued that recent results have slightly improved and that, whilst a disappointment, still getting to the Champions League and finding ways to grind out results when you’re not playing well is important.
Nevertheless, has this come at the cost of an obvious style of play being completely lost?
With Klopp, no matter the circumstance, fans knew how the side was going to try to play. Naturally, there would be tweaks, but the overarching philosophy remained the same. It is one reason for why his sides could recover when form and confidence did dip.
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“I think then they (the fans) are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do, and I think we know quite well what to improve.”
Arne Slot
Arne Slot
Response when asked if fans have enough to get behind after Villa defeat.
What actually is Slot’s philosophy now? The bitter taste from this season would be easier to swallow if fans could understand and get on board with what Slot was trying to build and work towards.
It’s hard to catalyse improvements, build confidence or find a settled eleven if you can’t demonstrate clearly how you want the team to play.
In recent interviews, Slot has suggested that things will improve following this summer’s transfer window.
Surprising Stat
Arne Slot never lost two league games in a row before heading to Merseyside; this season, he had a run of four defeats in a row.
At such a significant moment in the squad’s development – with leaders like Mohammed Salah and Andy Robertson leaving and Virgil van Dijk nearing the end of his career – can fans trust the developmental skills of a coach who seems to be pinning all his hopes on new signings?
Finally, linked to the above media engagement, the positive demeanour of Slot has notably changed as the pressure has been ramped up.
The recent comments about VAR being deliberately against Liverpool have veered dangerously towards conspiracy, hardly giving the impression of someone who is feeling confident and in control.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (R) and first assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff react to VAR sending referee Maurizio Mariani to the monitor for a penalty check during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Although a different personality to Klopp, fans were used to the German’s fire, positivity and belief, particularly at times of adversity. A Liverpool leader sets the temperature for players and fans alike. Be it fire or ice, Slot is simply coming across as lukewarm.
With Klopp, any disappointment in the minds of fans could be softened with the comforting knowledge that he had a track record of being able to steady the ship, and a belief that he ultimately knew how to keep it moving forward.
With Arne Slot, it will require a real leap of faith from fans – and ultimately those deciding on his future – as to whether he has the ability to navigate the choppy waters ahead.