Danny Murphy Backs Liverpool’s Decision to Sack Arne Slot and Appoint Andoni Iraola

Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder, has publicly endorsed the club’s choice to part ways with head coach Arne Slot, stating that the managerial change was necessary to rebuild confidence among supporters ahead of the new season.

Speaking to Tribal Football, Murphy offered measured support for the club’s position while acknowledging that Slot was not solely responsible for a deeply disappointing campaign. “I think it was the correct decision,” Murphy said. “I felt sorry for Arne Slot because he did a lot of things for the club and not everything that went wrong was his fault. He made mistakes, but not everything was his fault.”

Liverpool’s 2025/26 Premier League season was one of the most difficult in recent memory for the club. The Reds suffered 12 league defeats and conceded 53 goals across the campaign, ultimately finishing the season without a trophy and failing to secure a UEFA Champions League place — a significant drop from the standards established under Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, which delivered six major trophies including a Premier League title and a Champions League.

Beyond the statistics, reports emerged of internal tensions within the squad during the campaign, further complicating Slot’s position at the club. The Dutchman had taken charge ahead of the 2024/25 season following Klopp’s departure, inheriting a squad that had become one of the most successful in English football over the previous decade.

Murphy’s central argument centred on the psychological weight that would have lingered over the club had the decision been delayed. “At the start of next season, there would have been a fear among the fans as to what would happen regarding results and his style of play,” he explained. “Now that the club have made the change, there’s a new energy and excitement, which was really needed.”

The former midfielder also warned of the risks associated with indecision, suggesting that retaining Slot into the new season could have created a more disruptive situation further down the line. “The pressure that would have been on Slot in the first few games would have been enormous. If things didn’t go well, the club might have ended up making the same decision later and then having to find a replacement after the season had already started,” Murphy added.

Liverpool have moved swiftly in appointing Andoni Iraola as Slot’s replacement. The Spanish coach arrives at Anfield having overseen a remarkable period at Bournemouth, guiding the south-coast club to a sixth-place Premier League finish and securing European football for the first time in the club’s history — a feat that earned him widespread recognition across the English game.

Iraola, known for his high-intensity pressing style and tactical organisation, will face the immediate challenge of returning Liverpool to Champions League football and competing for domestic honours. His appointment is seen as a statement of intent from the club’s ownership, who are expected to back him in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign.

The managerial change also comes in the context of significant squad movement at Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah’s departure already confirmed following a high-profile exit. The Reds will look to Iraola to reshape the squad’s identity while stabilising the club’s standing among Europe’s elite.