Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed he had no warning and was not consulted before the club dismissed manager Arne Slot, learning of the decision only through leaked reports after touching down in Amsterdam.

Slot's two-year tenure at Anfield came to an abrupt end following a fifth-place Premier League finish — a sharp fall from the title triumph he delivered in his debut season in 2024-25. He had officially stepped into the role vacated by Jurgen Klopp in June 2024.

Liverpool's ownership group FSG have already moved to fill the vacancy, agreeing a deal with Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth manager, to take charge at Anfield.

Van Dijk's reaction

Speaking after the Netherlands' 1-0 defeat to Algeria, Van Dijk said the news hit him without prior notice from anyone at the club.