Arne Slot may have hoped his second season with Liverpool would reach a dramatic conclusion on the day of the Champions League final. And so it did, but in keeping with Slot’s year, not quite in the manner intended. Arsenal were preparing to face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest when news emerged from Merseyside of Slot’s sacking. It was a surprise to the Dutchman himself.
Enter Andoni Iraola, whose new club finished side-by-side with his old employers in the table. Sixth was Bournemouth’s highest ever finish; fifth brought Liverpool’s lowest points tally for 14 years, with their most defeats in all competitions for 33. In contrast, Iraola finished off unbeaten in 18 Premier League games with Bournemouth.
