A year on from Liverpool’s 20th title: How is Arne Slot doing?

April 28, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

Exactly one year ago today, the streets surrounding Anfield pulsed with an almost tangible euphoria. Liverpool had just been confirmed Premier League champions, securing their 20th top-flight title. Across the district, impromptu house parties erupted, a collective sense of liberation washing over fans who had waited decades for this moment. It was a night of unbridled celebration, a testament to a journey meticulously crafted by their charismatic manager.

From euphoria to uncertainty

Twelve months later, the mood is markedly different. The architect of that historic triumph, Jürgen Klopp, has departed, leaving behind a legacy that now casts a long shadow over the club's immediate future. The contrast between the joyous certainty of a year ago and the current landscape of transition is stark.

Reflecting on that pivotal night, one observer captured the unexpected turn of events:

"Had someone told me during those hazy, unshackled hours that, 12 months later, a debate would be rampant about the future of the person who had steered Liverpool to their 20th championship, I’d have assumed the conversation was about another European giant attempting to take him away."

Indeed, the "debate" that emerged was not about another club poaching Klopp, but rather his own decision to step away, citing dwindling energy reserves. According to The Athletic, this decision ignited a fresh wave of discussion, shifting from the manager's enduring presence to the daunting task of finding his successor.

Arne Slot's daunting task

That successor is Arne Slot, who arrives at Anfield with the unenviable task of following one of the most beloved and successful managers in Liverpool's history. The 20th championship, celebrated so passionately a year ago, now serves as both a proud benchmark and an immense burden for the Dutchman. He inherits a squad that, while still formidable, is entering a new chapter without the guiding hand that shaped its recent glories.

The celebrations of a year ago were a culmination, a definitive statement of Liverpool's return to the summit of English football. Now, the focus is firmly on what comes next. The "rampant debate" is no longer about Klopp's unexpected departure, but about how Slot will navigate the colossal expectations, how he will stamp his authority, and whether he can build upon the foundations laid by his predecessor, all while forging his own path in the shadow of a monumental legacy.

Sources: www.nytimes.com