A little over a year ago, Arne Slot looked like the perfect successor to Jürgen Klopp. He masterminded Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League victory with such clarity that many expected the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City to kick into another gear. This was before talks about Pep Guardiola’s exit would become a thing, of course.
Fenway Sports Group’s decision felt validated because they chose to move away from Klopp’s “heavy metal” football when selecting a successor to the German. Yet, by the middle of the 2025/26 season, Liverpool had fallen dramatically and only managed to finish in the top half due to some individual quality and some luck. A campaign that began with title ambitions ended with inconsistency, defensive vulnerability, and growing questions about the manager’s future.
Now, the club has moved on in brutal fashion, and many are surprised that Slot was not given a chance, especially after his first season and the work he did to rescue some of their dignity towards the end of the season.
Why Liverpool struggled so much under Slot
An analysis of their 2025/26 season shows that Liverpool did not have any identity in their campaign. Slot managed to blend his controlled possession style with the remnants of Klopp’s aggressive intensity to great effect in 2024/25. In 2025/26, he tried a sharp switch, which did not work. Then he would attempt to bring it back, but because it was not his style, he was unable to properly bring it back.
As a result, Liverpool became slower in possession, easier to play through and less intimidating without the ball. Opponents regularly bypassed their press to expose a defensive structure that looked fragile. They would go on to suffer several defeats during the autumn, effectively ending their title defence before Christmas. Injuries also played a major role. Slot, in his press conferences, repeatedly pointed to fitness problems and fixture congestion. The absences from the squad disrupted its rhythm, while his major signings struggled to consistently influence matches because of confusion.
That’s right: Slot and his side were largely confused about how to play, mostly due to how the Dutchman tried to immediately expunge a nine-year identity and impose his own in less than one year.
Was sacking Slot the right decision?
There is a strong argument that they acted too quickly. Slot inherited the daunting task of replacing Klopp, won the league in his first campaign, and still secured European football during a turbulent season. Reports point to the availability of Andoni Iraola as the main reason for FSG’s brutal decision. The former AFC Bournemouth manager has been touted as the most similar to Klopp in style, which means that FSG have decided that aggressive intensity suits Liverpool better than whatever Slot was cooking.
Some reports even claim that contacts have been made to bring the Spaniard on board. But in truth, only the FSG can answer this question. It is a given that elite clubs rarely judge managers solely on past success. We have also gathered that Liverpool’s hierarchy reportedly became concerned about dressing-room morale and the team’s long-term direction.
Despite the results, Liverpool lost its fear factor. When that happens at a club of Liverpool’s size, even a title-winning manager can quickly find himself fighting a battle he cannot win. Whoever comes in has two big shoes to fill, because Slot proved that Liverpool are supposed to be at the top by winning almost immediately, even if the second season was a bust.