Liverpool have been accused of abandoning their ‘tradition’ and throwing Arne Slot ‘overboard’ with their decision to part company with the 47-year-old on Saturday.
The Dutchman has paid the price for a hugely disappointing second season at Anfield in which the Reds – who began the campaign as Premier League champions and favourites to retain the title – just about salvaged Champions League qualification with a stuttering fifth-place finish.
Although there has been widespread calls for FSG to make a change in the dugout, one outspoken columnist from Slot’s homeland has brandished the Merseysiders a ‘hire and fire club’ after yesterday’s seismic news.
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‘Hire and fire’ Liverpool slammed over decision to sack Slot
In an article for De Telegraaf, Marcel van der Kraan wrote (translated from Dutch): ‘TheironyinthedismissalofArneSlotascoachofLiverpoolliesintheconstantpreachingtotheoutsideworldaboutthestandardsandvaluesofatraditionalclub.AtAnfield,thehomeofLiverpoolFC,everythinggoesaccordingtotradition.
‘Thereisaculturewherethestyleoftheclubshouldriseaboveeverythingelse, butthatstyleandculturehasbeenthrownoverboardinonefellswoopwiththeforceddepartureoftheDutchcoachandhisentireentourage.’
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
He added: ‘Notrophyinthesecondyear?Thenyouarenotgoodenoughintheeyesofthefans,yougettonsofcriticismfromyourownsupporters,itexplodesonsocialmediaandtheclubdoesnot dare tocontinue.Liverpool, likeotherbillion–dollarclubsinthePremierLeague,hasbecomea‘hireandfireclub‘.
‘LiverpoolwonthePremierLeagueunderSlotinthefirstseasontothetotalsurpriseofeveryone.Innineseasonsbeforethat,Kloppmanagedto do soonlyonce.Butloandbehold,ayearlaterheisonthestreet.’
Van der Kraan expressed further sympathy for Slot by pointing to the serious injuries to summer signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, while also opining that Mo Salah ‘hardly performed’ during his final season at Liverpool.
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Another club would probably have sacked Slot much sooner
It may seem callous to some that the 47-year-old has been jettisoned only a year on from winning the Premier League against all expectations, whilst also having to guide his squad through the devastating grief of Diogo Jota’s death.
However, such is the brutal reality of elite sport in 2026 – fuelled by unprecedented podcast and social media discourse – that the Dutchman would likely have been given his marching orders long before now if his fortunes had been mirrored at many other English top-flight clubs.
(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Would a Chelsea or Manchester United head coach have been given the full season in those circumstances? Even Leicester, the unlikeliest champions of all, showed Claudio Ranieri the door within nine months of him masterminding their extraordinary 2016 title triumph.
FSG have now overseen five coaching changes in their 16-year stewardship at Liverpool, although two of those occurred within the first two years of their takeover, and one was taken voluntarily by Jurgen Klopp.
Aside from the ruthless but not unjustified dismissal of Roy Hodgson in January 2011 after half a season in carge, the Anfield hierarchy tend to be far less trigger-happy than many Premier League rivals.
The time felt right to move on from Slot, under whom the club’s fortunes had nosedived, though he’ll always be appreciated for delivering the top-flight title last year.