Liverpool had no choice in sacking Arne Slot — now must secure Andoni Iraola

Saturday afternoon's news that Liverpool had sacked Arne Slot came as a shock — not because it was necessarily the wrong decision but because few expected it. After one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, supporters had lost faith in both the club and the coach.

Problems were apparent from November: goals conceded from set-pieces, exposure in transition, a raft of injuries and no lasting solutions. The team looked mentally and physically weak, a "soft touch", and Slot failed repeatedly to arrest the decline, making his dismissal unavoidable.

The club also missed a clear opportunity to act in January when Xabi Alonso was available after being sacked by Real Madrid. Emotion around the previous season's title and loyalty to Slot allowed a salvageable campaign to drift toward an inevitable conclusion. Andoni Iraola remains available and has shown he can get the best from limited resources, guiding Bournemouth into Europe while playing attractive, attacking football.

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