Legendary Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has shared that “it’s probably the right time” for Arne Slot to be sacked as Liverpool manager.
The comments came as Gerrard featured on the coverage of the Champions League final, just hours after Liverpool had officially announced that Arne Slot would cease to be the club’s manager “with immediate effect.”
The announcement came less than a week after the end of the 2025-26 season, which saw Liverpool struggle into the Champions League places in fifth after a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
“It’s probably the right time in my opinion.” Gerrard
Gerrard shared,”Your initial reaction is surprise and shock, but when you analyse it properly, it’s probably the right time in my opinion.”
He went on to comment, “I think he’ll go down in the history books and be remembered forever. Having said that, the last 10 games of last season and for the majority of this season, we haven’t looked like Liverpool. The style it’s been difficult to watch.”
The comments on style echoed the words Mohamed Salah used in a social media post after the penultimate game of the season against Aston Villa. Salah referenced the “heavy metal football” of Jurgen Klopp.
Gerrard, interestingly, also referenced the last 10 games of last season, where, despite winning the league, he lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle and were knocked out by PSG in the Champions League. Liverpool were easily set to win the title with more than 90 points, but only picked up two points from the final 12 available to finish on 84.
This drop off in form also came in line with a drop off in form for Mohamed Salah, who only scored two goals and provided one assist in the last 11 games in all competitions, having had a record-breaking season before that. This brings into question whether Slot’s success was mainly based on the individual brilliance of Salah.
The difficult shoes of Klopp to fill
Gerrard continued to speak about how positively Slot’s time at Liverpool began.
“Not surprised, gutted for Arne Slot cause in his first year, he did an incredible job in taking the reins from the great Jurgen Klopp that was a tough task and big shoes to fill, and I think he’d done it seamlessly.”
The transition period for a new Liverpool manager next season will be felt fully around the league next year, with Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City, Xabi Alonso starting at Chelsea, and Michael Carrick getting the Manchester United job on a permanent basis.
This could give a new Liverpool manager a little bit of settling-in time, but Arsenal under Arteta will be looking to win two in a row, and Unai Emery will look to build on his Europa League trophy success with Villa.
