Liverpool sack Arne Slot live updates: Latest news with Andoni Iraola lined up as next manager

As our correspondents, James Pearce and Gregg Evans wrote following the climax of the Premier League season:

📠Liverpool's embattled head coach didn't join the players on the traditional lap of appreciation following last Sunday's 1-1 draw with Brentford.

As Andy Robertson and Mo Salah continued to accept the acclaim of Anfield, the Dutchman sat alone in the dugout. His desire to ensure the spotlight remained on two outgoing legends was understandable — but the contrast from 12 months earlier was stark.

Back then, Slot had been in the thick of the celebrations — his name chanted repeatedly by the Kop as he raised the Premier League trophy to the heavens. The transition from the Jurgen Klopp era had been seamless, with Slot becoming only the fourth Liverpool manager to lead the club to title glory in their debut season at the helm.

When the champions then embarked on the biggest transfer spending spree in their history last summer, the expectation was that the good times at Anfield would keep on rolling. However, from such dizzy heights, the fall from grace has been dramatic.

Slot, who was the target of boos and jeers at the penultimate home game against Chelsea, had lost plenty of support among the fanbase. A growing number were calling for him to be replaced.

One senior club official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, told The Athletic: “Were we dealt a difficult hand? 100 per cent. Should we have played our hand better? Absolutely. Nobody is under any illusions. There are mitigating factors but it hasn't been good enough.â€

You can read their piece in full below.