Arne Slot job at risk with massive Liverpool exit set to be announced | OneFootball

A massive exit from Liverpool is reportedly getting announced. It could cost Arne Slot his job.

Reports in Saudi Arabia suggest Richard Hughes is about to be announced as the new sporting director at Al-Hilal. The club have been purchased by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, who intends to restructure the Saudi Pro League's biggest team.

Hughes is a major part of that restructuring and reports linking him with a move date back months now. The suggestion now is that the deal will be announced imminently.

And that's a massive blow for Arne Slot. Hughes is the man who hired him and reportedly his biggest backer in what's been a difficult season.

That certainly came across in the roundtable video Liverpool put out earlier this year. Hughes and Slot looked like the pair driving the club forward - but it appears the former will depart early.

Slot is already under immense pressure, with all sorts of calls for him to lose his job as head coach. Hughes' departure would be an enormous hit to his chances of continuing in the role, especially as any new sporting director would likely want his own man in place.

After all, they'll have new ideas and a different personality - and not necessarily in ways that compliment Slot. Hughes leaving unquestionably makes it easier to move on from the Dutchman.

A brilliant end to the season could change that, though. Regardless, reports suggest this will be another summer of major changes at Liverpool.

Arne Slot: Situation Summary

Tactical Struggles and Performance Review

Arne Slot’s tenure as Liverpool head coach has reached a critical juncture following the club's exit from the Champions League. On 14 April 2026, the Reds suffered a 2–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield, resulting in a 4–0 aggregate loss in the quarter-finals. This European disappointment follows a difficult run in the Premier League, where the defending champions currently sit fifth after 10 defeats. Slot has faced tactical criticism for his recent defensive setups, and the team's low goal return—just 40 in the league at this stage—is a stark contrast to the fluid, relentless side that secured the title twelve months ago. Despite these struggles, the club ended a poor run of form with a 2–0 victory over Fulham on 11 April.

Job Security and Future Speculation

Despite mounting fan restlessness and the shadow of free agent Xabi Alonso, prominent reports as of 15 April suggest that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) intends to stick with Slot. High-profile sources, including David Ornstein, have indicated that the hierarchy—led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards—plans to support the Dutchman even if the club fails to secure Champions League qualification for the 2026–2027 season. The board reportedly views this as a transitional campaign, exacerbated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier in the year. While Slot insists he feels the "complete support" of the owners, he remains under significant pressure to rebuild supporter trust and secure a top-five finish in the final weeks of the season.