Report: Former Red was never a serious contender to replace Arne Slot | OneFootball

Liverpool Reach Difficult Decision After Dramatic Decline

Liverpool have made the seismic decision to part company with Arne Slot after a turbulent second season that ended with the club limping into fifth place and scraping qualification for the Champions League.

The Dutch coach departs Anfield just a year after delivering Premier League glory in his first campaign, a remarkable achievement that initially appeared to secure his long-term future on Merseyside. Yet football can move quickly, and a season characterised by inconsistency, declining performances and growing supporter frustration ultimately convinced Liverpool’s hierarchy that a change was necessary.

According to original reporting by The Athletic’s James Pearce, sporting director Richard Hughes informed Slot of the decision on Saturday morning after discussions with Fenway Sports Group’s senior leadership. Despite previous indications that Liverpool intended to stand by their head coach, the club reassessed the situation following the conclusion of the campaign.

The feeling inside Anfield was that the project had lost momentum. A side that had once looked capable of competing with Europe’s elite instead struggled to establish any rhythm or identity during crucial stages of the season.

Slot Struggled to Reverse Liverpool’s Downward Trajectory

What made the decision particularly difficult was the context surrounding Liverpool’s campaign. Injuries disrupted the squad throughout the season, with several key players spending extended periods on the sidelines. Major summer signings rarely enjoyed consistent opportunities to build partnerships on the pitch, while established stars failed to reproduce the standards supporters had come to expect.

Slot also had to navigate significant challenges behind the scenes while attempting to maintain competitiveness on multiple fronts.

However, Liverpool’s hierarchy increasingly became concerned about the team’s inability to solve recurring problems. Performances lacked intensity, attacking play became predictable and supporters grew frustrated by a style many viewed as overly cautious.

One senior club figure told The Athletic: “The emotion was just sucked out of Anfield. There was no intensity. We looked like a team without an identity.”

That assessment appeared to reflect wider concerns within the club. Liverpool collected just two points from their final four league matches and failed to build momentum when qualification for the Champions League should have been secured comfortably.

Statistics painted an equally troubling picture. Liverpool conceded 53 Premier League goals, their worst defensive record in a 38-game campaign. They scored only 63 league goals, their lowest return for a decade, while suffering 20 defeats across all competitions.

Although tensions between Mohamed Salah and Slot generated headlines throughout the season, reports suggest that disagreement was not a decisive factor in Liverpool’s thinking. Instead, concerns centred on the team’s direction and whether meaningful improvement was likely under the current coaching staff.

Alonso Never Viewed as Genuine Liverpool Option

Following news of Slot’s departure, speculation quickly turned towards potential replacements. Among the names linked with the vacancy was former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, whose coaching reputation has continued to grow in recent years.

However, James Pearce reported that Alonso was never seriously considered by Liverpool’s decision-makers.

Pearce wrote that “the reality is that the new Chelsea boss wasn’t viewed as a serious contender by Edwards and Hughes.”

That revelation will surprise many supporters who had long viewed Alonso as a natural fit for the Liverpool job. His history with the club, combined with his achievements in management, appeared to make him an obvious candidate from the outside.

Internally, though, Liverpool’s recruitment team were focused elsewhere.

The club’s leadership wanted a coach capable of delivering a more aggressive, front-foot style while fitting seamlessly into Liverpool’s existing football structure. Their preferred candidate quickly became clear.

Iraola Fits Vision for New Era at Anfield

Andoni Iraola has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to become Liverpool’s next head coach.

The Spaniard enhanced his reputation during an outstanding spell at Bournemouth, guiding the south coast club to successive improvements and ultimately securing European football. His teams earned widespread praise for their intensity, pressing and attacking ambition.

Those qualities align closely with what Liverpool believe is required moving forward.

Perhaps most importantly, Hughes knows Iraola exceptionally well from their time together at Bournemouth. That existing relationship could prove vital as Liverpool seek a swift appointment and a smooth transition ahead of the new season.

Iraola’s success has been built despite losing key players during his Bournemouth tenure, demonstrating an ability to improve teams, develop talent and adapt to changing circumstances.

Liverpool’s decision to dismiss Slot was not taken lightly. Winning the Premier League in his first season ensured he will always occupy a place in the club’s recent history. Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged that achievement when he posted: “We’ll never forget winning the Premier League in our first season together.”

Yet football’s elite clubs are driven by relentless standards. Liverpool’s hierarchy concluded that maintaining the status quo carried greater risk than embracing change.

Now attention turns to Iraola and the possibility of a fresh chapter at Anfield. If Liverpool secure their preferred candidate, supporters will hope the energy, aggression and identity that defined many of the club’s greatest modern moments can be restored once again.