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Arne Slot kept his farewell brief following Liverpool's decision to part ways with him on Saturday, expressing only his "gratitude" for the opportunity to manage at Anfield across two seasons.
The club announced the Dutchman's immediate exit six days after the Premier League season concluded. Liverpool limped to a fifth-place finish — a steep drop from their title-winning campaign the year before — and only secured Champions League football on the final day of the season.
Following disappointing results and a very public falling-out with club legend Mohamed Salah, Slot's position in the dugout had become increasingly uncertain. Ultimately, Liverpool chose to move on, leaving the former Feyenoord boss with little more than a brief goodbye statement to offer.
"It's been an amazing ride together with Liverpool," Slot said, via Fabrizio Romano. "I am so grateful that we were able to win the league last season."
Liverpool's Lows Under Slot
Slot made a point of referencing Liverpool's record-equalling 20th league championship from 2024–25 in his farewell address, which stood as the undeniable peak of his tenure on Merseyside. The Reds wrapped up his first season with 84 points — 10 clear of second-placed Arsenal — and conceded just four league defeats throughout the campaign.
However, the cracks were already visible. Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, suffered defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the fourth round by Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle.
Matters deteriorated considerably in Slot's second season. Alongside the team's fifth-place Premier League finish, the Reds were again eliminated by PSG — this time in the Champions League quarterfinals — suffering a humiliating 4–0 aggregate defeat.
Liverpool were also dumped out of the FA Cup at the quarterfinal stage with a 4–0 loss to Manchester City, while Crystal Palace sent them packing from the Carabao Cup in the fourth round with a 3–0 victory.
What Role Did Salah Play in Slot's Exit?
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Slot's future at Anfield, the club had appeared willing to continue backing him. Liverpool had numerous opportunities and sufficient grounds to dismiss the Dutchman mid-season, yet they stood by him, seemingly trusting Jürgen Klopp's successor to turn things around after a turbulent campaign.
Then Salah posted a damning critique of Slot, Liverpool's style of play, and the club's overall direction on social media — and the mood shifted. While the surface impact may not have been immediately obvious, when the likes of Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Hugo Ekitiké, Andy Robertson, and Jeremie Frimpong all liked the post, it amounted to a very public revolt on Merseyside.
The optics were damaging enough on their own, but the atmosphere behind the scenes was likely far more toxic. Reports suggest the post — or more specifically, the visible endorsement from key squad members — may have influenced the club's decision to ultimately pull the plug on Slot's project and pursue a fresh start heading into 2026–27.
Reports indicate former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner to succeed Slot, following his outstanding work with the Cherries, where he guided the club to the Europa League for the very first time in their history.