'Came as a surprise': Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk responds to Arne Slot sacking

Arne Slot was dismissed as Liverpool manager following a disappointing season, in which the defending Premier League champions ended up sixth and scraped into the UEFA Champions League by a narrow margin.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, the only Premier League player to have played every single minute of the 2025-26 campaign, told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he found the decision surprising.

"That took me by surprise. I spoke with Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I am very thankful for all they have done for me. I am confident Liverpool will get through this successfully," Van Dijk said after the Netherlands' 1-0 loss to Algeria.

Van Dijk said he was not kept informed of the club's decision-making process.

"I arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday, and by then the news had already been leaked. I then had conversations with the club, but the decision had already been made. It is not as though they asked for my opinion."

Liverpool are expected to name former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as Slot's replacement, with an official announcement anticipated soon.