Liverpool dressing room reaction to Arne Slot sacking emerges as private talks confirmed
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SportFootballLiverpool FCArne Slot was sacked by Liverpool last weekend after it was decided by the club's hierarchy that his style of play was no longer the right fit for the clubCody Gakpo has admitted Liverpool’s players were surprised to hear that Arne Slot had been sacked. Slot was dismissed last weekend following an end-of-season review that decreed his playing style was no longer the right fit for the club.The Dutchman also paid the price for Liverpool’s disappointing defence of their Premier League title and the fact his side lost 19 times in all competitions.
Fans turned on Slot after a number of poor performances, but up until last weekend he had retained the support of owners Fenway Sports Group.And Gakpo admitted that FSG's sudden U-turn caught him and his Liverpool team-mates completely off guard.“A shame that the manager has been sacked,” he told ESPN. We have to put it to the side.Gakpo, just like Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk, also revealed that he had spoken to Slot since he was sacked.“I had of course sent him a message to thank him for the past two years and of course with the highlight of last season,” he said.In an open letter to fans published by the ECHO on Monday, Slot said winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge of the club was “beyond special”.He wrote: “The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of You’ll Never Walk Alone being sung from The Kop.“You made me feel welcome from the start and helped me on the path.
That is something I cherish.”As well as thanking fans, Slot paid tribute to players, staff and the club’s owners.“It has been a pleasure working with you all,” he said. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageUpgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass 'designed for football'This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.