It was always going to end this way. After a Premier League title in year one followed by one of the most turbulent second seasons any manager could endure, Liverpool have confirmed the sacking of Arne Slot. The Dutchman leaves Anfield with a league title to his name — but also with the memory of a season that unravelled spectacularly and cost the club a Champions League place.
What went wrong?
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League in 2025-26 — 25 points behind champions Arsenal — and failed to win a single trophy after a summer spending spree of over £450 million. The gap between expectation and reality was simply too large to survive.
The season was derailed almost from the start. The death of Diogo Jota in pre-season cast a long shadow over Anfield. A string of significant injuries followed. Mohamed Salah’s visible decline became impossible to paper over. And the club’s enormous summer signings — Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike among others — took far longer than anticipated to gel into anything resembling a coherent team.
The club’s statement acknowledged Slot’s contribution carefully: “That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and — most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves — successful. Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield.”
It is a respectful send-off. But a sacking is a sacking.
The cruel irony of the Xabi Alonso jokes
Earlier this season, with Liverpool struggling and Xabi Alonso freshly available after leaving Real Madrid, Slot was asked directly in a press conference whether he’d spoken to the Spaniard about potentially taking his job. His response was one of the more memorable manager quotes of the season.
Slot said: “Yes, he called me and said ‘What do you think about the team because I am going to take over in six months, can you tell me a little bit more?’ Or maybe earlier, maybe he takes over tomorrow. That is the weirdest question I ever got.”
As it turned out, the question wasn’t quite as weird as Slot made out. He lasted a few more months than that — but not many.
So who is replacing him? Andoni Iraola
Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is strongly touted to take the hot seat at Anfield, with reports suggesting he is Liverpool’s primary target.
The appointment would close a remarkable circle. Liverpool had actually identified Iraola as their first choice to replace Jurgen Klopp two years ago, before ultimately opting for Slot instead. Having watched Slot’s tenure end in disappointment, FSG now appear ready to go back to that original instinct.
Iraola had another outstanding season at Bournemouth in 2025-26, leading the Cherries to sixth place in the Premier League and securing European football for the first time in the club’s history. It is an extraordinary achievement for a club of Bournemouth’s size and resources — and a testament to Iraola’s ability to extract maximum performance from a limited squad.
The Spaniard is widely regarded as one of the brightest tactical minds in European football right now. His pressing systems are intense and meticulously drilled, his man-management is highly regarded, and his ability to develop players — particularly younger ones — has been one of his hallmarks at the Vitality Stadium.
What about Xabi Alonso?
The man Slot joked about has indeed landed at a Premier League club — just not the one many expected. Alonso was confirmed as the new Chelsea manager earlier this month, signing a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool’s loss, as it turns out, is Chelsea’s gain — and it means the two clubs willbe going head to head in the dugout next season, with Alonso and whoever takes the Anfield job facing off in what promises to be one of the more intriguing managerial rivalries in the Premier League.
What this means for Liverpool
This is Liverpool’s most significant managerial appointment since Klopp arrived in 2015. The infrastructure is there — the squad, despite a difficult season, contains genuinely world-class talent. The new signings, given time and a settled manager, could yet deliver on their enormous potential.
But FSG need to get this right. Two seasons without a trophy is manageable. Three — with that level of investment — would be a crisis. Whoever comes in faces not just the challenge of competing with Arsenal’s newly dominant side, but the pressure of restoring Liverpool’s identity and belief after a deeply demoralising campaign.
If it is Iraola, Liverpool are getting one of the most exciting managers in Europe. The question is whether he can translate what he built at Bournemouth to the demands of one of the world’s biggest clubs. History suggests that transition is rarely straightforward. But then again, history also suggested Arne Slot had what it took.