Liverpool sack Arne Slot after dismal Premier League title defence as favourite to be new manager emerges | OneFootball

Liverpool have sacked Arne Slot just a year after winning the Premier League.

Slot won Liverpool’s 20th top-flight league crown only 12 months ago but leaves Anfield with immediate effect after enduring a testing title defence. The season fizzled out and ultimately ended without any silverware despite a lavish outlay, spending £450m on new signings in last year’s transfer window.

The Reds endured their worst run of form in 70 years earlier this season as they recorded just four wins across 15 outings, losing nine during that dismal period.

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Arne Slot has been sacked by Liverpool (PA)

Despite a brief upturn in form around February-March, the Reds crashed out of the Champions League to PSG for the second year running and only narrowly secured their passage to the competition next season, after finishing fifth on the final day.

Slot was also caught in the firing line when Mohamed Salah hit out at the manager’s style of play before his own exit at Anfield was confirmed.

The process to identify and appoint a successor is underway and Andoni Iraola is now seen as the clear front-runner to take over at Anfield, having confirmed his exit from Bournemouth after guiding the Cherries to the Europa League.

Many saw ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso’s move to the Chelsea hotseat as indicative of the Reds sticking with Slot, but the club confirmed that they have dispensed of the 47-year-old’s services, a year before the expiration of his three-year contract.

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Slot won the Premier League in his first season at Anfield but things soured (Reuters)

A statement from the club read: “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.

“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

“From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.

“At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.”

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Mohamed Salah’s departure hung over Liverpool this term (PA)

It is understood Liverpool have made the decision reluctantly, but came to the difficult conclusion after assessing the campaign and determining that a change would necessitate the essential evolution of the side.

Given the recruitment already made, and more planned, the feeling around the club is that the next phase requires a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football than Slot delivered, with a different profile of head coach needed.

The primary objective for the Reds is now to recruit the candidate who best fits their preferred playing style criteria and they will refine the shortlist in the coming days, although Iraola’s success and the impressive manner in which he achieved it will surely be big ticks in his column.

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Ex-Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the early favourite to take over (Getty)

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title,” Liverpool continued in a lengthy statement.

“That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day. He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

“As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come. Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.

“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.”

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Slot was celebrating a remarkable Premier League triumph just 12 months ago (Getty)

Slot’s appointment looked to have been a masterstroke after his first campaign. Refining the squad he inherited from Klopp, the Dutchman transformed players like Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to create a powerhouse that stormed to the Premier League title, securing a record-equalling 20th crown with four games to spare.

A summer of spending followed as Liverpool broke their transfer record twice, first for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen before acquiring Newcastle frontman Alexander Isak for a British record £125m on deadline day. Neither has yet been able to live up their price-tags.

The club also endured tragedy during the off-season, mourning the death of Diogo Jota. Slot admitted ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit in November, a game they lost 3-0, that it is impossible to measure the impact the grief the Portuguese’s passing has had on his players but insisted they will never use it as an excuse for poor results.

However, after a struggle of a season, Liverpool have made the tough decision to move on from the Dutchman as they look to the future.