World Cup
Arne Slot sacked as Liverpool finish fifth after £400m spend
Arne Slot was relieved of his duties as Liverpool manager after the 2025-26 season, during which the club finished fifth in the Premier League despite spending over £400 million on new players. The Dutchman had only recently brought in a former Feyenoord staff member before Fenway Sports Group dismissed him.
Slot’s appointment had included the recruitment of a former Feyenoord colleague, but the poor showing led Fenway Sports Group to terminate his contract.
Injuries had a big part to play in Liverpool’s lack of form, but the team’s quality should have been enough to deal with an injury crisis.
USA salvage draw, Germany and Netherlands seal wins at chaotic World Cup night
Most of Slot’s men failed to perform to the standards expected of them, with Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister among the season’s worst culprits. Gakpo only seemed to know how to cut in and shoot, and his finishing was poor this season, while Mac Allister, once seen as one of the Premier League’s best central midfielders, forgot how to run and failed to make his time count. Since the World Cup kicked off, Gakpo has played in both Netherlands games and contributed to three goals, and Mac Allister has maintained a 93.9 percent pass accuracy, made five tackles and recorded ten defensive contributions. Other Liverpool players who performed well this season include Dominik Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha and Hugo Ekitike.