Michael Owen has stated that the sentiment of match-going supporters made it the right decision for Liverpool to dismiss Arne Slot last month. The former striker believes the club listened to fan unrest as they made the difficult call to part ways with the Dutch manager.
Slot's Tenure at Liverpool
Slot secured the Premier League title in his debut season after succeeding the legendary Jurgen Klopp two years ago. However, his second campaign proved challenging as the Reds surrendered their crown and finished fifth, losing 12 league matches and 20 across all competitions.
Club owners Fenway Sports Group initially intended to retain Slot, but an end-of-season review on May 30, led by sporting director Richard Hughes, resulted in his dismissal. Former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was quickly appointed as his successor.
Staff Departures
On Friday, Liverpool also announced the exits of Slot's assistant Sipke Hulshoff, head of physical performance Ruben Peeters, and assistant coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Fan Unrest
Several Liverpool results last season were met with boos at Anfield, including a 1-1 draw with relegated Burnley in January and a stalemate against Chelsea, who arrived on Merseyside after six straight defeats.
Owen, who won five major honours at Anfield across nearly 300 appearances, emphasized the importance of fan reaction in the club's decision. "Towards the end of the season you could feel the fans' unrest, and I was initially believing that Liverpool would give Slot more time," Owen told the ECHO. "But once the season was ending, if you asked fans at the matches, there was a real feeling that they didn't believe Slot was the right man to take the club forward."
He added: "I thought Slot did excellent in his first season. Winning the Premier League is no mean feat, especially with limited transfer activity. But after a big summer window strengthening the striker positions, it just didn't progress the way anyone wanted."
Transfer Needs
Liverpool are yet to make a signing this summer after losing Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate at the end of the campaign. Owen outlined key areas for Iraola to strengthen: "You are not going to replace Salah like for like. I like the option of Jarrod Bowen at West Ham. So yes, Liverpool need to strengthen on the right side of attack. I also think a top centre-back is necessary, as defensively Liverpool were not as strong. Then cover in central midfield would be a key position to strengthen."
Michael Owen was speaking to the ECHO as the face of Casino.org in the UK, a leading comparison website helping Brits find online casinos that suit their preferences.
