Arne Slot has been sacked as Liverpool head coach.
The decision has been taken by owner Fenway Sports Group after a dismal season saw Liverpool finish fifth in the Premier League with just 60 points, their lowest total for a decade.
It brings to an end the Dutchman’s two-year reign since he was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor in the summer of 2024.
Initially, the transition was seamless as the former Feyenoord boss surpassed all expectations in leading Liverpool to Premier League title glory in his first season at the helm.
However, their fortunes nosedived in 2025-26 with 19 defeats in all competitions.
Slot had to deal with the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain last July and there were problems integrating new signings following a £440million spending spree, the biggest outlay in a single window in the club’s history.
Established stars such as Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister lost their way, while a succession of damaging injury setbacks also played their part in a torrid run of results.
‘A shame it ended this way’
Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Andy Jones
This is not the way anybody envisaged Arne Slot’s second season ending when he was preparing to lift the Premier League title 12 months ago.
Results and performances have been well below standards and while Liverpool are in position to qualify for the Champions League next season, they have done so in fifth and with a whimper.
Unrest among the fanbase has been growing. Many had decided his fate when Liverpool lost nine matches in 12 in the autumn, a run which included three consecutive damaging defeats to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and PSV – all by a three-goal margin.
Slot can point to a number of mitigating factors, beginning with the tragic death of Diogo Jota last summer, as well as injuries, new signings taking time to settle and the underperformance of key players.
Liverpool have been hamstrung by the absence of their four most important attackers through injury in recent weeks, but there has been little sign of improvement as the season draws to a close and the pointed statement from Mohamed Salah, which was liked by a number of his teammates, last weekend was a sign that his position was becoming untenable.
Liverpool’s hierarchy have stood behind the head coach all season, but the supporters’ discontent meant it would have been a huge risk to head into next season with Slot still in charge. Even though he was confident he could solve the problems of this season with the help of another busy transfer window, one or two poor results early on would have plunged him straight back into trouble.
Slot’s achievement of winning the Premier League in his first season should not be forgotten. It was also not a ‘fluke’, as he took the team left by his predecessor Jurgen Klopp and made the collective, and individuals better. It is a shame it has ended this way.
