According to sources like Sky Sports, Arne Slot will remain in charge of Liverpool for next season and, honestly, it’s hard to understand why.
I know Liverpool has a very specific identity in this regard. Only 22 managers in more than 130 years, which is impressive and shows stability. But here it feels like they’re forcing that philosophy a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, there is merit in Slot for winning the Premier League in 24/25, but I see that title much more as a continuation of Klopp’s work than something he truly built himself. Slot stepped into a system that was already set up, with routines, ideas and dynamics clearly defined. He basically took over a car that was already moving and drove it to the finish line, which has merit, of course, but it’s not the same as building everything from scratch.
And the problem shows exactly when he starts implementing his own ideas. Liverpool get worse, and it’s clear.
There’s the drop in form from Salah, yes, but it’s not just him. The question is: who is actually better than last season? Szoboszlai, and no one else obvious. When the collective drops like this, someone has to be held responsible and, in this case, for me, it’s the manager.
At the start of the 25/26 season, after the transfer window and what the team had previously shown, I saw Liverpool as contenders for everything. The expectation was to win 2 or 3 trophies. The reality? They won nothing, spent most of the season between 5th and 10th, were even down in 12th at one point, and are now only fighting for a Champions League spot. This is way, way below expectations.
And this is where the main point comes in: before, with less direct intervention from Slot, the team was excellent. When he starts truly implementing his idea of play, which is normal and expected from any manager, the performance drops drastically. Is that a coincidence or does it say something about his level at this stage?
Now we look at the context: summer 2026 will have several managers available, many with quality and ready to take on big projects. And honestly, I think Liverpool could, and maybe should, explore that. But at the same time, this is what makes the club different. In a football world where managers get sacked after 5 or 10 bad results, Liverpool keep the faith.
Conclusion
Arne Slot deserves credit for the Premier League, but that team was still much more Klopp’s than his. When he started implementing his own ideas, Liverpool dropped significantly and the season showed that clearly.
It feels like the club is forcing continuity and, with so many options on the market, it might make sense to look for a different path.