Liverpool sacked Slot days after agreeing to strengthen his coaching staff

Liverpool dismissed Arne Slot on Saturday, just days after the club had apparently agreed to add Feyenoord coach Etienne Reijnen to his backroom staff — a move Slot himself believed was happening as late as Friday evening.

According to The Telegraph, Reijnen had said his goodbyes to people in Rotterdam and was preparing to relocate to Merseyside. There was reportedly no indication of any change of plan as late as 5.30pm on Friday. Liverpool had reignited their interest in Reijnen after he failed to secure a work permit when Slot first arrived at the club in 2024; the coach left his role with Feyenoord earlier this month and had told those close to him he was heading to a Premier League side.

The apparent U-turn makes the timing of Slot’s exit all the more striking. The Reds announced his departure on Saturday afternoon, with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola emerging as the leading candidate to succeed him. Iraola had already confirmed earlier this season that he would be leaving the Cherries at the end of the campaign.

Reijnen’s proposed move is now likely to be shelved. Whoever takes the Anfield job will almost certainly want to install their own coaching staff, and Iraola is no different. The Spaniard is said to be keen to bring Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick with him. Elphick turned down the chance to become Bristol City manager this week and is understood to be weighing his options carefully. Bournemouth want him to remain under incoming head coach Marco Rose, but Iraola’s preference is reportedly to take him to Liverpool.

The existing relationship between Liverpool’s board and Bournemouth’s hierarchy — built through several years of personnel movement between the two clubs — is seen as a factor in Iraola’s candidacy.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard offered his assessment of the potential appointment: “I think he’s done a fabulous job at Bournemouth. I think his style would suit Liverpool. But let’s not beat around the bush — Liverpool Football Club is an attractive job for a lot of elite managers around the world. So I don’t think he’ll be the only name on the table. But because of the link to Bournemouth and the guys that have come from Bournemouth to Liverpool in terms of board level, they will know him very well.”