Mohamed Salah demanded a return to heavy-metal football at Liverpool, and the club’s hierarchy agreed when deciding to sack Arne Slot. The decision is framed as necessary for Liverpool’s style to evolve, though the season’s regression is not attributed solely to Slot. Liverpool have rarely dismissed managers while they were on a title-winning run, with Sir Kenny Dalglish’s dismissal occurring during a second spell that included a League Cup win. Slot won Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league title 13 months earlier and handled Diogo Jota’s death with dignity and professionalism. The club acted after a review of a season containing 20 defeats across all competitions, including the Community Shield, and Liverpool’s lowest points tally in a decade. Fenway Sports Group previously backed Brendan Rodgers into 2015-16 despite fan unrest, then sacked him in October, and executives feared similar toxicity would reappear with Slot. Slot also faced vitriolic personal abuse from some supporters on social media and felt separated from send-offs for Salah and Andy Robertson and the team’s traditional lap of honour after his final match. The divide between Slot, the Anfield crowd, and the team during the campaign is presented as a key factor behind the club’s action.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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