Rio Ferdinand has an interesting theory for why Liverpool suddenly sacked Arne Slot
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It came as quite a surprise to many when Liverpool announced on Saturday that Arne Slot was leaving the club.In public at least, FSG have continued to back Slot, feeding the line that he would be in charge going into the 2026/27 campaign.But after the Dutchman was dismissed over the weekend, Rio Ferdinand is now under the impression that ‘there must have been something that’s gone on in the last few days’ to prompt Liverpool to change their mind. What was your biggest frustration with Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach?
Click below to find out why staff at Anfield were equally as annoyed with the Dutchman Rio Ferdinand suggests something changed this week for Arne Slot to be sackedTaking to his X/Twitter account after Slot’s exit was announced, Ferdinand made a good point about Xabi Alonso when giving his verdict.Alonso to Liverpool would have made a lot of sense, but he has now been confirmed as the Chelsea manager, a decision that could have been avoided had Slot left earlier.Ferdinand explained: “Now, I think this must have been like, something’s happened at the end of the season, that is like an irreversible situation, an irreversible situation.“Because the one candidate that was out there was Xabi Alonso. And Liverpool, he was the obvious candidate to go in there after Arne Slot, when he chose to leave or if Liverpool were going to sack him.“That’s gone now, he’s at Chelsea.
And then this decision comes, Slot is now gone from Liverpool.“I just can’t work this one out. There must have been something that’s gone on in the last few days that’s made it that this is the decision and Liverpool are now a managerless club.”Ferdinand’s point is valid, though how much truth is behind the theory is hard to say.Liverpool secured Champions League football at the end of the season, which is all Slot had left to play for anyway for over a month.So if keeping the Reds in a top-tier European spot wasn’t enough to warrant him remaining as manager, why didn’t Liverpool sack him after they were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG in April?It’s not like there was any real hope the style of football would change in the final month of 2025/26, given it had been so poor for the remainder of the campaign.But there has been a suggestion that Mohamed Salah’s social media post had a part in the Dutchman losing his job.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox