Who Gains and Who Suffers Most From Arne Slot's Exit at Liverpool

Just two years into Arne Slot's tenure, Liverpool are already searching for a replacement for the Dutchman.

A remarkable debut season that culminated in the Premier League title could not have been more different from his second year at the helm, as Liverpool tumbled to fifth place and ended the campaign empty-handed.

Dismal results and equally poor performances left Liverpool with little option but to sever ties with the Dutch manager, a decision that is likely to split opinion within the dressing room. Some players will feel a sense of relief, while others may be anxious about what lies ahead.

Here is a look at who stands to gain and who stands to lose from Slot's exit at Liverpool.

Winners

Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz is unlikely to be too upset by Slot's departure. A difficult debut season at Anfield following last summer's high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen was made worse by a coach who struggled to get the best out of him.

Former Red and Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso was able to unlock Wirtz's abilities at Leverkusen, as has Julian Nagelsmann with the German national side. Slot, however, could not replicate that success, with Wirtz finishing the season with just 15 goal contributions in 49 appearances.

Being repeatedly deployed on the left wing did little to help the attacking midfielder's growth or give him the consistent run of form needed to truly flourish. Liverpool's laboured attacking play under Slot also played a part in his subdued campaign.

Liverpool's incoming manager—widely expected to be former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola—inherits a supremely creative talent ready to be developed.

Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones's future is up in the air heading into the summer, with reports of a move to Serie A champions Inter having gathered pace recently after first emerging during the January window. The Scouser's apparent frustration with Slot and his limited role under the 47-year-old seemed to stoke the transfer rumours.

Frustration is perhaps an apt description for Jones, who has frequently promised more than he has delivered for the Reds. Standout displays have been few and far between, and doubts persist over whether he can grow into a midfielder capable of holding down a regular starting spot at his hometown club. Consistency remains his biggest challenge.

Even Jürgen Klopp was unable to mould Jones into an elite midfielder, despite the 25-year-old's clear technical gifts. Yet with a few more seasons of experience since the iconic German's exit, Liverpool's next manager could be the one to finally unlock his potential.

If that manager turns out to be Iraola, Jones will have plenty of reason for optimism. The Spaniard is a superb man-manager, and one only needs to look at the strides Alex Scott has made under him at Bournemouth over the past year to see a glimmer of hope for Liverpool's No. 17.

Milos Kerkez

Milos Kerkez had an extremely tough introduction to life at Liverpool after joining last summer, and while the Hungary international showed clear improvement as the season wore on, he still fell short of the levels he had reached during the 2024–25 campaign at Bournemouth.

Liverpool's lack of a clear identity undoubtedly hampered Kerkez's performances, with Slot's move away from the attacking fullback approach that predecessor Klopp had used so effectively curtailing the 22-year-old's influence.

However, should Iraola take over as anticipated, Kerkez will be reunited with the manager who transformed him into a $53.5 million (£40 million) player. The Spaniard's high-pressing, high-intensity style should enable Kerkez to rediscover his best form and fulfil his potential as the long-term successor to Andy Robertson.

Jeremie Frimpong

Slot can hardly be held responsible for Jeremie Frimpong's injury-plagued debut season at Liverpool, as five separate stints on the treatment table severely disrupted the Dutch international's momentum. Nevertheless, when available, the right back struggled to make his mark in Slot's disjointed system.

Much like Kerkez, Slot was unable to properly harness Frimpong's attacking threat. The 25-year-old had registered 10 or more goal contributions in each of his last four seasons at Bayer Leverkusen—albeit in a wingback role—yet has managed just three in 35 outings for Liverpool.

When fielding him at right back, Slot could not find a formula that allowed Frimpong to contribute offensively without undermining the team's defensive shape. Sporadic appearances at right wing as a stand-in for Mohamed Salah did little to inspire confidence either.

A fresh managerial approach could help Frimpong recapture the dynamic, free-flowing form he showed at Leverkusen.

Losers

Cody Gakpo

Despite a miserable season on Merseyside, Gakpo still racked up 52 appearances across all competitions—with only three players logging more. Slot's unwavering trust in the struggling winger yielded just nine goals throughout the campaign, including only one in the final three months.

While Gakpo did put pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal last August, a managerial change offers him little security over his place at the club. Given his unconventional build for a wide attacker, his poor form, and the rise of Rio Ngumoha, regular minutes are far from guaranteed under new management.

With Liverpool pursuing at least one new winger this summer—Yan Diomande their primary target—and potentially two, Gakpo's time at the club may be running short. After such a disappointing season, he will need to make a strong impression on Slot's successor.

Ryan Gravenberch

Gravenberch spent his first season at Liverpool struggling for game time under Klopp, but Slot's decision to repurpose the Dutchman as a defensive midfielder propelled him into the starting lineup. A hugely impressive reinvention proved vital to Liverpool's Premier League triumph, and Slot understandably kept faith in the former Bayern Munich midfielder the following season.

However, with Slot now out of the picture and a holding midfielder on Liverpool's transfer wishlist, Gravenberch's place in the starting XI is no longer a certainty. While his long-term prospects at Anfield remain bright, securing regular minutes under a new manager could prove more difficult.

Liverpool have considerable depth in midfield, and if Iraola does take charge, there will be just two central midfield spots available given the 43-year-old's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Factor in a potential new signing and Gravenberch's patchy form throughout 2025–26, and the Netherlands international may face a challenging road ahead.