Arne Slot has been sacked as Liverpool head coach.
The decision has been taken by owner Fenway Sports Group after a dismal season saw Liverpool finish fifth in the Premier League with just 60 points, their lowest total for a decade.
It brings to an end the Dutchman’s two-year reign since he was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor in the summer of 2024.
Initially, the transition was seamless as the former Feyenoord boss surpassed all expectations in leading Liverpool to Premier League title glory in his first season at the helm.
However, their fortunes nosedived in 2025-26 with 19 defeats in all competitions, with 12 league losses in comparison to only four the term before.
A joint statement from Liverpool’s owners on Saturday confirmed the decision, saying it was “necessary” and “the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction”.
“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying,” it read.
“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.
“At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward.
“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.”
Slot had to deal with the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain last July and there were problems integrating new signings following a £440million spending spree, the biggest outlay in a single window in the club’s history.
Liverpool exited the Champions League at the hands of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, 4-0 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage in April. They went out of the Carabao Cup after defeat by Crystal Palace in the fourth round in October and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City in the quarter-finals last month.
Established stars such as Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister lost their way, while a succession of damaging injury setbacks also played their part in a torrid run of results.
Slot was appointed as Liverpool head coach in May 2024, signing a three-year contract, with the English club paying a compensation package of around €11million (£9.4m) to bring him in from Dutch side Feyenoord. He replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, who departed the club after almost nine years as manager.
