Arne Slott sacked by Liverpool: Jamie Redknapp claims the player’s strength contributed to the Dutchman’s dismissal but backs Andoni Iraola to handle the pressure | football news

Jamie Redknapp has suggested player strength played a role in Arne Slott’s sacking by Liverpool, but has backed Andoni Irraola to handle the pressure to replace the Dutchman.

After a disappointing fifth-place finish in his second season in charge, Slott was sacked just one year after the Reds won their 20th league title.

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola, who led the Cherries to sixth in the Premier League and their first European campaign, is the frontrunner to replace Slott. Sky Sports News understand

Iraola announced in May that he would be leaving the Vitality Stadium and has been linked with Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.

However, the 43-year-old now appears favorite to take over in the Anfield hotseat and Redknapp has backed the Spaniard to manage a move to a club of Liverpool’s stature.

“I love the guy (Iraola). I never thought he could eclipse what Eddie Howe did (at Bournemouth), but he did,” Redknapp said. Sky Sports.

“The style of football is amazing – they play high pressure, they get behind teams, that’s exactly what Liverpool fans want.

“They want to see high-energy guys, whether that fits the mold at Liverpool, because they play a lot of man-to-man. That style of play in midfield is really high-energy – whether (Alexander) Wirtz fits that, it will be interesting to see. Everyone has to run in that team.

“There’s talk that he doesn’t like to talk to his players too much – he doesn’t want to talk to you if you’re not in the team.

“It won’t appeal to many players, but, in this day and age, many players go directly to the chairman or director of football.

“But he sets up his stall early – he’ll tell you hours in advance if you’re in a group.

“The question now is going from Bournemouth to Liverpool, how do you manage that transition? I don’t see it as a problem for him.

“As long as he gets the right players he needs… you’ve seen him turn a lot of Bournemouth players from okay players to great players, which seems to fit the bill.

“I have no problem if he can handle it. He was a great player and is now an elite manager. If he has to be, I have no doubt.”

‘Players played big role in slot sacking’

The second half of Slott’s tenure was marred by speculation about his relationship with star man Mohamed Salah, who claimed the Dutchman “threw him under the bus” during Liverpool’s poor run at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Redknapp, who admitted to being disappointed for the outgoing Liverpool boss, claimed that other members of the Liverpool squad could have played a role in the decision to remove the 47-year-old from his post.

“I feel disappointed for Arne Slott, he has done a fantastic job. The fact that he won the Premier League was an incredible achievement,” said Redknapp.

“This year, there were a lot of situations that made it difficult to coach that team.

“He will feel tough, but that’s football – that’s the price of the ticket.

“I hope Liverpool don’t go down that road of hiring and sacking – we saw it at Man Utd and it didn’t always have the desired effect. Sometimes you have to live with what you’ve got.

“The players will play a big part in that as well. A bit of the power of the players, talking to the owners, talking to the people in charge and they’ve had their say – they’re not really enjoying football, maybe it feels like Slott isn’t the guy to get them going.

“You have to be very careful listening to the players because a lot of them have their own agenda and are not thinking about what is best for the team.

“But we’re at this point now and it’s ‘OK, what’s next?'”

Merson: Slot deserves another year; Iraola will have to adapt

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson on Liverpool’s decision to sack Slott:

“I’m quite shocked, especially because Xabi Alonso has left for Chelsea, which makes me think Arne Slott will stay for at least another six months.

“But now he’s out and I think it’s weird.

“I thought he should have had another year for what he did in his first season. Not many teams get back into the Premier League and he gets them back into the Champions League.

“I thought it was a bit harsh but the fans there weren’t happy and you have to keep them happy.

“I’m a huge fan of Andoni Irola. But he was the manager at Bournemouth, where if you lose a game it doesn’t matter.

“I’m not saying this disrespectfully, but at Liverpool it’s win, win, win. He’ll have to get used to it. But taking Bournemouth on a 19-game unbeaten run in the Premier League is amazing. Liverpool will hope he can bring that magic to Anfield.”

Iraola in the shortlist of two people, but Enrique is another target?

Sky Sports News’ Mark McAdam:

“The brand of football is obviously one of the big factors. I believe there are two names on the shortlist to replace Arne Slott. One is Irrawola.

“If you talk to any Bournemouth fan about the style of football they’ve had over the last three seasons under Andoni Iraola, they’ll sing about the way Bournemouth go about their business. High intensity, on the front foot. They play with real enthusiasm and ability to get the ball forward.

“They use width, are very dynamic on the ball and win it up the pitch. They really take the game to the opposition. It’s that kind of heavy-metal brand of football. Exactly the same style under Jurgen Klopp. It wasn’t about keeping the ball, it was about being exciting.

“At this stage, we know Liverpool have not officially spoken to any candidates, but we do know that Andoni Iraola is one of the players they want to talk to.

“Champions League day. Luis Enrique at PSG. Three league titles on the spin, back-to-back Champions League wins. Is this the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to Paris? We know he has a year left on his contract.

“I find it interesting that Liverpool sacked Arne Slott today. There could be some significant changes at PSG in the next 24 hours. Who knows? We know there are two names on Liverpool’s shortlist. Andoni Iraola is one. Who is the other? I find it really interesting that the announcement comes on a day like today.”

Analysis: Iraola’s style will appeal to fans

Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor About Andoni Iraola’s Interests:

“It seems to be a decision made for football reasons, given the style of play.

“We heard from Mohamed Salah not so long ago in a social media post that he expressed. Well, it seems that this is a feeling within Liverpool, that this is a style of play.

“The belief is that the head coach needs a different profile to express what Liverpool fans appreciate more about their style of play, the kind of football we’ve seen under Jurgen Klopp.

“There are all kinds of tie-ins with Richard Hughes at Liverpool.

“We broke the news the other day that Iraola wants to hold out for the Liverpool job. He has already been linked with numerous jobs since announcing his departure from Bournemouth.

“It’s a name that Liverpool fans have mentioned. I would argue that it’s a big jump from Bournemouth manager to Liverpool, certainly bigger than Feyenoord to Liverpool, but at the same time, the style of play is something that Liverpool fans will definitely relate to.

“I think everyone has been impressed with what he has done at Bournemouth and the style of play he has been able to implement there.

“In terms of that and emotionally, I think he’ll get the Liverpool fans, the Liverpool fans will get him.

“I think it’s pretty easy to put him at the top of the list at the moment but I’d imagine Liverpool are going through a pretty thorough process at the same time.”