Virgil van Dijk breaks Liverpool dressing room silence after Arne Slot sacking

View 4 Images

Virgil van Dijk has thanked Arne Slot after the head coach was sacked by Liverpool . The Reds captain has become the first player to send a message of gratitude towards the tactician who guided them to the Premier League title.

The central defender sent a message to his Dutch compatriot less than 24 hours after the news broke of Slot's dismissal. The 47-year-old was sacked, less than a week after the campaign concluded with a 1-1 draw at home to Brentford. The point secured Champions League qualification for the Reds, but six days later, the Anfield hierarchy wielded their axe and sacked the Premier League-winner.

Liverpool endured a poor Premier League title defence as they limped to a fifth-place finish in the league. Pressure had been building on Slot after a series of dour performances and poor results but he retained the backing of the board until the end of the season. Van Dijk became the first of the Liverpool players to thank Slot.

In a post to his Instagram story, he said: "We'll never forget winning the Premier League in our first season together. Thank you, Trainer, and best of luck to you and your family for the future."

It was a difficult second season in England's top-flight for Slot and the task was made greater towards the second half of the season when the first signs of friction with Mohamed Salah emerged.

The Egyptian made incendiary comments after being left on the bench for the 3-3 draw with Leeds United . He was left out of the squad that travelled to Milan in the Champions League before returning on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Salah was reintegrated into the squad but was released from his two-year contract prematurely, allowing him to leave on a free this summer. The 33-year-old fired one more parting shot before his departure as he called out the diminishing standards at Anfield as he called for the return of heavy metal football.

Andoni Iraola has been installed as the favourite to succeed Slot with the Spaniard said to have a front-foot attacking philosophy that fits in line with Liverpool's style of play. While no decision has been made yet, the Liverpool board paid tribute to the Dutchman in their joint statement.

4 View 4 Images

4 View 4 Images

They said: "This was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.

“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field. From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it.

"This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens. At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.

View 4 Images

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title. That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

“He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person. As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful.

"We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come. Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.