Dutch media have criticised Liverpool's decision to sack manager Arne Slot, accusing the club of abandoning its culture. Slot was dismissed on Saturday, just 12 months after leading the Reds to the Premier League title, following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the league.
De Telegraaf accused Liverpool of 'throwing their own culture overboard' and turning into a 'hire and fire' club. Voetbal International described it as a 'premature end to a period that began with so much promise', noting that Slot's second season was marked by 'massive inconsistency'.
AD highlighted Liverpool's £450m spending spree last summer, which saw 'major disappointments' like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who 'barely delivered and proved to be a costly miscalculation'. De Volkskrant said Slot's 'biggest problem' was Mohamed Salah, who aimed several barbs at the manager during the season, including a 'frontal attack' after a draw at Leeds.
Some outlets expressed empathy for Slot, noting his 'compassion and humanity' following the death of Diogo Jota. Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating Slot 'will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title'.
Andoni Iraola is widely expected to replace Slot, with Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and PSG manager Luis Enrique also among the favourites. The club reportedly wants to return to a more aggressive, front-foot style of play, echoing comments from Salah about 'heavy metal football'.
