FSG agreed with Salah: loss of style meant Arne Slot had to go to win back fans | Andy Hunter

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Mohamed Salah’s parting shot was to demand the return of heavy-metal football at Liverpool and, in their reasoning for sacking Arne Slot, the club’s hierarchy have concurred. It is a brutal, but understandable decision to remove Slot on the basis that Liverpool’s style must evolve, though responsibility for this season’s regression does not rest with the coach alone.Liverpool have never sacked a title-winning manager on their title-winning watch before now.

He also deserved better than to feel he should be separate from the send-offs to Salah and Andy Robertson and the team’s traditional lap of honour after what proved to be his final game as head coach.But the distance between Slot and the Anfield crowd six days ago, between the Dutchman and the Liverpool team, was symptomatic of the divide that appeared during the campaign. The statement confirming Slot’s exit is effusive in its praise for his title achievement, his character and his conduct.

It needed much more than the promise of signing a couple of talented wingers this summer to win back the faithful.Slot struggled throughout the season to rectify Liverpool’s shortcomings at set pieces – their increasing importance in the Premier League at odds with his own approach – and to prevent opponents repeatedly hurting his team from open play. Having propelled Liverpool to an unexpected Premier League triumph in 2024-25, Salah suffered an unexpected loss of form that disrupted the entire team.Alexander Isak’s unavailability for much of the season did not help Arne Slot’s cause at Liverpool.