Andoni Iraola appointment and Arne Slot sacking - Liverpool supporters deliver their verdicts
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It is all change at Anfield with Andoni Iraola last night being confirmed as Liverpool's new head coach.The 43-year-old takes over from Arne Slot, who was sacked last Saturday, six days after a difficult second season in charge had ended with the club qualifying for the Champions League.But the Dutchman will be best remembered for what he did in his debut campaign on Merseyside when he led Liverpool to their record-equalling 20th league title.And to react to Slot's dismissal, and the appointment of Iraola as his replacement, our Reds fans' jury return for the final time this season.Andrew CullenIt was breathtaking for Arne Slot to have picked up the Premier League title in his first season at the club; whilst he picked up Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0, which was replete with talent, he still had to manage and direct that talent, and he also had to lift the fans, who had saw an indomitable, much-loved manager leave the club.His second season, though, was breathtakingly bad - we were treated to lethargic and poor performances across the season. From Slot’s first season to his second, there was not just a decline, but a steep decline, a decline with a team who had dominated the league the season before.
Confidence in Slot’s ability to arrest the slump diminished as the season progressed.Top managers go through bad patches. The Xabi Alonso decision is a head-scratcher.What’s for certain is that Liverpool fans will be right behind the new manager, and if the players bring the energy and passion on the pitch, they will have an energised and passionate fan base behind them.Rhys BuchananI’m hugely excited about the next chapter for Liverpool, but I felt weirdly subdued when the news hit last Saturday that Arne Slot’s time in the dugout had come to an end.It’s been said many times, but I wholeheartedly agree that the history books will be kind to the Dutchman and his time at Anfield.
Seeing the season slump to a sorry end though, you can't help but feel an air of relief about his departure.Andoni Iraola might just be the busiest man in football over the summer and it will be the biggest challenge he’s ever met, but you can’t help but feel a fresh face will energise players and fans alike as we head towards August. Here's to a new journey and up the Reds!James NobleSaturday’s announcement that Arne Slot would leave his role as head coach with immediate effect cued mixed emotions.There was sadness.