Virgil van Dijk was one of several Liverpool stars to pay tribute to Arne Slot after the Dutchman was sacked by the club.
News of Slot’s shock departure came on Saturday, after the Reds had told him he was being relieved of his duties following a poor season which saw them lose 20 matches in all competitions.
He was dismissed following a review into Liverpool’s troubled season that was led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of football at the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group.
Daily Mail Sport understands the dismissal came as a surprise to much of the squad, who thought he had ridden the storm of recent weeks.
And, following Slot’s exit, which came just a year after he led Liverpool to the Premier League title, several players shared heartfelt messages thanking him for his work.
This included captain Virgil van Dijk, who posted a photo of the pair together during last year’s title celebrations.
Several Liverpool stars paid tribute to Arne Slot after he was sacked by the club on Saturday
Alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch was one of many players to thank Slot for his work
He added: ‘We’ll never forget winning the Premier League in our first season together. Thank you, trainer, and best of luck to you and your family for the future.’
Van Dijk’s fellow Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch shared a similar post as he said: ‘Thank you for everything, coach! Lifting the Premier League trophy together was an incredible achievement and a moment I’ll never forget. Wishing you all the best for the future.’
Midfielder Curtis Jones posted a snap of him and Slot embracing and said: ‘Thank you and all the best for the future. Respect you as a man for what you gave our club.’
Alexis Mac Allister, a key player under Slot last season, but one whose struggles epitomised the club’s dip in form this time around, posted: ‘I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent together. Winning a Premier League is not easy and you were a big part of that success. Thank you and wish you all the best.’
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo, who Slot often relied upon, added: ‘Thank you, coach. Wishing you all the best for the future. God bless.’
Hugo Ekitike, perhaps the only one of last summer’s big money signings to shine this season, shared: ‘Thank you for everything you taught me and for the time you gave me, both on and off the pitch. I wish you all the very best coach.’
One star who notably didn’t pay tribute to Slot was Mohamed Salah, following his latest outburst against the Dutchman earlier this month.
Salah was a frequent critic of Slot and advocated a return to Jurgen Klopp’s ‘heavy metal attacking team’ in a social media post.
Salah did share an Instagram story hailing Ibrahima Konate, whose own departure from Anfield was announced on Sunday, but failed to post anything in regards to his former boss.
Dominik Szoboszlai was also yet to pay tribute by the time of writing on Sunday night.
Hugo Ekitike, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister also thanked Slot for everything he had done
Mohamed Salah, a heavy critic of Slot, hadn’t posted anything in relation to his former boss at the time of writing, but he still found time to pay tribute to the outgoing Ibrahima Konate
Daily Mail Sport also reported on Sunday that Liverpool are set to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week as they look to announce Slot’s replacement as soon as possible.
Iraola, who announced in April that he was leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season after turning down offers to extend his contract, is Liverpool’s top target to replace the Dutchman, and the club will now formalise their approach for the 43-year-old in the coming days.
Spaniard Iraola led Bournemouth to the Europa League via a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League as they ended the season just three points behind Liverpool. He also masterminded a 3-2 win over the Reds at the Vitality Stadium when the clubs last met, in January.
Iraola is said to be keen on taking the Anfield job. Crystal Palace are understood to have made him an offer after Oliver Glasner’s departure and had been hoping for an answer from the Spaniard this weekend. The in-demand coach has also spoken with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool would become Iraola’s fifth managerial job after Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca, Spanish clubs Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano and then Bournemouth. Should he join it may well mark a change of playing style at Anfield, with his Bournemouth side attracting admirers across the Premier League for attacking at pace.
