Van Dijk: I Was Not Consulted Before Liverpool Fired Slot

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he was completely taken aback when Anfield announced the dismissal of manager Arne Slot.

Slot had been sacked after Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, a disappointment compared with the title win he secured in his first season at the club.

The decision ended Slot’s two‑year tenure that began when he replaced Jürgen Klopp in June 2024. Van Dijk has been with Liverpool for nearly ten years, and his contract runs until 2027.

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The club’s owners, FSG, have already agreed to appoint former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as Slot’s successor.

Van Dijk explained that he was not consulted by the club’s hierarchy and learned of the dismissal through leaked reports after he arrived in Amsterdam.

“That came as a surprise. I spoke to Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me. I know Liverpool will come out of this well,” Van Dijk said following the Netherlands’ 1‑0 loss to Algeria.

“I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the news had already been leaked. I then had discussions with the club, but the decision had already been made by then. It’s not as though they asked me for my opinion.”

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Van Dijk started all 38 league matches this season, playing 3,420 minutes and scoring six goals, including two against Aston Villa late in the campaign as doubts about Slot’s future grew.

During Liverpool’s 2024‑25 title‑winning season under Slot, he appeared in 60 of 60 matches across all competitions, logged 5,444 minutes, scored six goals, and added one assist.