'Liverpool boss Arne Slot to win Manager of the Year'

03/31/2025 12:22 PM

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will win the Manager of the Year award over a rival boss after being doubted by pundits and former players alike, says Jeff Stelling.

The Dutch manager was given the unenviable task of replacing the legendary Jurgen Klopp, but Slot has risen to the challenge with the Reds set to secure only their second Premier League title this century under his stewardship.

Slot has dealt with the uncertainty of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s prospective move to Real Madrid, whilst both his captain Virgil van Dijk and Ballon d’Or front-runner Mohamed Salah have been playing on the last year of their current deals.

What’s more, he has done so without a consistent goal-scorer upfront, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez failing to perform in the number nine role.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is seen as the main challenger to Slot for the award, but Stelling was vehement in his belief’s that there was only one standout candidate for the title.

Arne Slot defies pre-season expectations and deserves Manager of the Year

Following a discussion about Espirito Santo deserving the Manager of the Year award, with Nottingham Forest sat third in the Premier League and in the FA Cup semi-finals, Stelling gave his verdict on why the Liverpool manager was more deserving of the award, saying (8.26am): "I completely take your point and I'm gonna get battered by Forest fans.

“But Arne Slot, if Liverpool win the title in his first season, taking over from Jurgen Klopp, he will be Manager of the Year."

Following his statement earlier in the show on talkSPORT, viewers chimed in by highlighting the strength of the side Slot had inherited, to which Stelling responded (8.35am): "Let me just tell you, people have got short memories, at the start of the season how many people tipped Liverpool to win the Premier League?

"One. And I'm looking at ya right now. One, okay. Jamie Carragher didn't think his old side would win the Premier League.

"Gary Neville didn't think that Liverpool would win the Premier League. Ally McCoist did not think that Liverpool would win the Premier League.

"Opta gave Liverpool a five percent chance of winning the Premier League.

"So Forest fans, by all means, sing the praises of Nuno, suggest that he should be manager of the year, I'm not gonna argue with you in great deal, but don't tell me that Arne Slot took over a team where everybody expected them to win the league, cause that is just nonsense!"

Arne Slot must rebuild Liverpool sooner than expected

Football Insider Verdict

In football, winning is hard, but it seems that keeping a winning team together can be harder.

Two seasons after Arsenal‘s invincible winning season in 2004, only six members remained with the team from that side (Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Gilberto Silva, Freddie Ljunberg and Thierry Henry (who left one season later)).

Leicester‘s Premier League title in 2016 remains the single most impressive achievement in any sport, but one that was impossible for them to repeat, as their side was picked apart by richer foes.

Liverpool now find themselves in a similar predicament, with their three out-of-contract stars currently set to leave.

Even more concerningly, the Reds may be forced to cash-in on Ibrahima Konate, who has one year left on his contract, whilst they are keen to move on from Nunez, Jota, possibly Diaz if the offer from Newcastle is right, and Andy Robertson.

Slot would likely have expected the squad he inherited to have more lasting power than it looks to, he may still be able to retain Salah and Van Dijk’s services, but Liverpool seem set for some sweeping overhauls this summer.

Winning the Premier League title this season is a remarkable achievement, but the Dutchman’s legacy at Anfield may well be defined by his ability to rebuild this summer.

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