Liverpool have sacked manager Arne Slot just 12 months after he won the Premier League title, following a season that saw 20 defeats, growing fan unrest, and a breakdown in player confidence, according to the report. The club's end-of-season review, led by Fenway Sports Group , cited tactical stagnation and a loss of trust in Slot's leadership. Andoni Iraola, the outgoing Bournemouth manager, is the frontrunner to replace him.

The 20 defeats that sealed Slot's fate

As the source reports, Liverpool dropped points in 22 of 33 games after a promising start, with heavy defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City and uninspired draws against relegation-threatened sides. The 20 losses were a stark contrast to the title-winning campaign, and boos from the Anfield faithful became routine. Slot's inability to fix persistent problems — from September through May — made the decision inevitable.

Why £446 million couldn't save the season

The club invested heavily in the summer transfer window,spending £446 million to reinforce the squad. yet the same tactical issues recurred week after week. The source notes that despite injuries to key players — including the tragic death of Diogo Jota and setbacks for £125 million striker Alexander Isak and his backup Hugo Ekitike — the core of the title-winning squad remained intact. Slot's failure to extract consistent performances from that core was a damning indictment,the report says.

Mohamed Salah's 'heavy metal' jab

Mohamed Salah's pointed remarks about missing Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal football' signaled a loss of confidence within the squad, according to the source. Other high-profile players also expressed dissatisfaction publicly. The squad's vocal discontent, combined with Slot's reliance on excuses rather than solutins, eroded any remaining trust in his leadership.

The agonizing parallels with Sir Keir Starmer's decline

The source draws a striking comparison between Slot's downfall and that of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who saw massive initial support evaporate due to missteps and poor communication. While the analogy has limits, it captures the sense of betrayal felt by supporters who had placed their faith in Slot . The report notes that even taxi drivers in the city voiced a desire for change, reflecting how deep the unrest had spread.

Andoni Iraola: the Bournemouth tactician tasked with revival

Andoni Iraola, who impressed Liverpool's hierarchy with his success at Bournemouth, emerges as the leading candidate to take over. the next manager inherits a talented but wounded squad, and the choice of Iraola suggests a deire for a dynamic, attacking approach reminiscent of the Klopp era. however, the rebuild is larger than anticipated, the source says, and the challenge of winning back the fans and competing with Manchester City and Arsenal is formidable.

Open questions remain. The source mentions injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike as hampering the team, but both players are not at Liverpool — Isak is at Newcastle and Ekitike at Eintracht Frankfurt — raising questions about reporting accuracy. Additionally, the exact timeline of the end-of-season review and whether any other candidates besides Iraola were considered remain unverified.