Cody Gakpo admitted that members of Liverpool's dressing room were completely shocked by Arne Slot's sacking following his second season in charge of the Reds

02:21, 06 Jun 2026

Cody Gakpo has reacted to Arne Slot's exit(Image: ESPN)

Cody Gakpo conceded that he and his Liverpool teammates were completely caught off guard by Arne Slot’s sacking.

Last weekend, Slot was shown the door following an underwhelming second season in charge, during which his squad finished trophyless and secured a Champions League spot by just three points. It didn’t take long for the Reds to hone in on the Dutchman’s replacement, with Andoni Iraola quickly slotting in as Liverpool’s next head coach upon coming to a formal agreement with the club on Thursday.

For many members of Liverpool’s dressing room, Slot’s unceremonious exit was a tough pill to swallow. “A shame that the manager has been sacked. Especially so soon after the season where we had fought to qualify for the Champions League,” Gakpo said while speaking to reporters on Friday, via ESPN.

“But yes, that… I believe the club released a statement about that with the explanation in it.”

Though Gakpo admitted that Slot’s ousting came as a surprise, the 27-year-old acknowledged that he couldn’t afford to dwell on his departure with the 2026 World Cup right around the corner.

“I don’t think anyone, any of the players saw it coming,” Gakpo said. “It certainly happened, but apart from that, I think many of our players at the club are also working towards the World Cup now. We have to put it to the side.

When asked if he’d spoken to Slot in recent days, Gakpo replied: “I had of course sent him a message to thank him for the past two years and of course with the highlight of last season.”

Cody Gakpo reached out to Arne Slot following his sacking(Image: Getty Images)

Much like Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk revealed that he had no prior knowledge of Slot’s firing before learning about it at the same time as Reds fans. "That came as a surprise,” he told Dutch News.

“I spoke to Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me. I know Liverpool will come out of this well.

"I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the news had already been leaked. I then had discussions with the club, but the decision had already been made by then. It's not as though they asked me for my opinion."

With Slot no longer calling the shots in Anfield, reports have begun to spread like wildfire that Gakpo could be looking for a way out of Liverpool. According to Soccernews, the Dutch winger submitted a transfer request “because he does not see a future at The Reds without Slot.”

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Back in January 2023, Gakpo officially transferred to Liverpool after the Reds finalized a $46.1 million (€40m) deal with PSV Eindhoven that eventually reached $60 million (€50m). Over 180 appearances since, he has amassed 50 goals and 23 assists for Liverpool.

Gakpo will likely have no shortage of suitors should he want to leave Liverpool, with Fabrizio Romano reporting: “We have to see what’s going to happen around Cody Gakpo in case Liverpool receive an important proposal.

“There is interest in him. It’s going to be on Liverpool to decide whether he’s going to stay or let him leave.”

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German sports agent Marc Kosicke dismissed rumors of links to Real Madrid for Jurgen Klopp, stating his client is happy with his role as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer

01:10, 06 Jun 2026

Jurgen Klopp's team ahas shut down rumors of potentially managing Real Madrid

After two straight seasons without a La Liga title despite having the world’s most expensive squad, Real Madrid presidential challenger Enrique Riquelme promised a major overhaul. He wants to bring in top players, managers, and talent to avoid another year of disappointment.

Riquelme has made it clear to Real Madrid fans that he is ready to spend big to sign top players like Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and wants to bring in Jurgen Klopp as manager.

The ex-Liverpool coach's agent was one of the first voices of authority to shut the rumors down completely, with Klopp showing no interest in leaving his current job as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull. Meanwhile, Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez promised a mystery $174M transfer bid for a “total Galactico” if he wins the election

Manchester City threatened legal action after Riquelme promised to sign Haaland and held up a Real Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name during an interview.

Riquelme named Klopp as his top choice for manager, even though Jose Mourinho has agreed to return for a second spell on a multi-year deal. That agreement depends on Florentino Perez being re-elected as president.

Klopp's agent, Marc Kosicke put all rumors to bed about the 58-year-old returning to managing after leaving Liverpool in 2024. "It’s annoying," he said, per Sky Sport Germany. "Jurgen Klopp is happy in his role at Red Bull and has no ambitions to work as a coach at a club."

Enrique Riquelme wants Klopp as his dream manager target for Real Madrid

Since leaving Liverpool in 2024, Klopp has been linked with top jobs in world football, even though he stepped away from daily coaching. He also turned down an offer to coach the German National Team.

Klopp is now Global Sports Director for Red Bull’s football clubs, a role he started on New Year’s Day. He oversees RB Leipzig, Red Bull Bragantino, New York Red Bulls, RB Omiya Ardija, Leeds United, and Paris FC.

Klopp’s contract with Red Bull runs until December 31, 2029. He is responsible for finding and developing talent, mentoring young players, and managing the international scouting network.

Klopp has served as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer since Jan 1

Klopp built one of the most successful coaching careers in modern football. He managed Liverpool from 2015 to June 2024 and led the team in 489 matches, averaging 2.07 points per game.

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Klopp won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two EFL Cups, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Community Shield with Liverpool. He previously led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal in his seven years in Germany.

Klopp said he would not manage another English team after leaving Liverpool. The club recently let go of Arne Slot, who won the league during his first season, and hired former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola for the 2026-27 season.

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Liverpool is slated to receive a chunk of the $355m (£265m) that FIFA is rewarding clubs for releasing players to compete in the 2026 World Cup this summer

00:10, 06 Jun 2026

FIFA is awarding clubs $355 million to release players for this year's World Cup(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool will be paid handsomely by FIFA as the Reds’ biggest stars compete in the 2026 World Cup.

The 2025-26 campaign hardly went according to plan for Liverpool, who sacked Arne Slot last weekend after finishing trophyless and barely secured a spot in the Champions League. It didn’t take long for the Reds to find the Dutchman’s replacement, with Andoni Iraola quickly slotting in as the club’s next head coach upon reaching a formal agreement on Thursday.

Despite coming off an underwhelming season, Liverpool will still send eight players to this year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Among those representing their nations on the global stage include goalkeeper Alisson Becker (Brazil), defender Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), midfielders Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands), Wataru Endo (Japan), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) and Florian Wirtz (Germany), as well as forwards Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) and Alexander Isak (Sweden).

Fortunately for Liverpool, FIFA has promised to award clubs $355 million (£265m) for releasing players to participate in the quadrennial tournament.

Back in 2010, the global governing body launched the Fifa Club Benefit Program in order to fairly compensate teams that were allowing their players to spend weeks at a time with their national clubs.

Of the $355 million that makes up the club compensation pot, $250 million (£187m) will be devoted to the World Cup. For the first time, another $100 million (£75m) will be set aside for the qualifying round matches.

The leftover $5 million (£3.75m), meanwhile, will be dedicated to the betterment of club football, as per an agreement between FIFA and European Football Clubs (EFC) following the deduction of administrative costs stemming from program implementation.

Virgil van Dijk headlines the group of Liverpool stars slated to compete in the 2026 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)

Once a player is released to participate in the World Cup, they earn $5,000 (£3,730) per day for their club until the day after their national team is ousted from the tournament.

For qualifying round matches, players made $2,362 (£1,765) for their club during each contest they were on a matchday squad.

Given that FIFA’s hard deadline for clubs to release players was May 25, the minimum amount a player can earn their club during the tournament is $160,000 (£119,500) across 14 days.

If a player reaches the Final, they would procure $285,000 (£212,900) for their team over 57 days — including the day following the tournament.

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Should a player switch teams after the expiration of their contract, FIFA’s compensation payments are split between the two clubs.

Such is the case with Andy Robertson, who completed his move to Tottenham as a free agent earlier this week following his emotional exit from Anfield.

Thanks to the Scotland captain, Liverpool will receive payments from FIFA up until June 30 — at which point Tottenham will accept any of the subsequent earnings from July 1.

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Tottenham has confirmed the signing of Andy Robertson, with the former Liverpool left-back set to complete his move to north London following his involvement at the World Cup

13:57, 05 Jun 2026

Tottenham has confirmed the signing of Andy Robertson(Image: Getty Images)

Andy Robertson has spoken for the first time after his transfer to Tottenham was confirmed, having brought his long association with Liverpool to an end this summer.

Robertson’s departure from Anfield was confirmed earlier this year, with the left-back bringing the curtain down on his nine-year spell with the Reds after playing his final game against Brentford last month.

The Scotland international will now join Tottenham, with the north London club confirming his signing on Friday. It comes after Robertson came close to joining Spurs back in January, with the move having not gone through amid Liverpool’s injury problems in defense.

Robertson will complete his move when his contract at Anfield expires on July 1, and following his involvement at this summer’s World Cup.

Speaking in his first video message to Tottenham fans, Robertson said: “Hi Tottenham fans, it’s me Andy Robertson here. As you can see, I’m not in Glasgow, I’m in America just now preparing for the World Cup.

“But I just wanted to send you a quick message to say I cannot wait to play for you guys, I cannot wait to meet you guys, I cannot wait to play in the stadium for the first time in front of you, and I’m already looking forward to next season. All the best, and I’ll see you soon.”

Andy Robertson came close to joining Tottenham back in January(Image: Getty Images)

Robertson leaves Liverpool this summer having played 378 games for the club, winning every available major honor along the way, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League.

Speaking about the signing, Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi said: "Andy is someone I've admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team.

"He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch.

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"I can't wait to start working with him and seeing the positive impact he will have on everyone around him."

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Liverpool.com says: Best of luck to Robertson at Spurs. It will be strange seeing him playing against Liverpool next season, but he will be guaranteed a great reception when he returns to Anfield.

Tottenham will be getting the model professional in the Scot, something which it seems like it needs given the last couple of years. Under De Zerbi, you’d certainly expect a far better showing from it next season.

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Reports on social media are claiming that Liverpool could be prepared to sell Dominik Szoboszlai if talks over a new contract don't progress.

The claims, which Caught Offside are carrying, are that Liverpool is in discussions with the midfielder as they look to avoid a similar situation to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.

It's suggested the Reds are taking a more proactive approach this time, and with two years remaining on Szoboszlai's contract, they're not willing to let it run down, and could be prepared to sell him this summer.

That prospect seems highly unlikely during a window when a new midfielder is likely to be a priority, and after a season when Szoboszlai has been voted as the club's player of the year.

(Image: Getty)

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Liverpool quickly identified Andoni Iraola as its preferred choice to replace Arne Slot but Jamie Carragher has questioned whether he will be able to convince established top players to buy into his methods

12:11, 05 Jun 2026

Jamie Carragher expressed his concerns over Liverpool's Andoni Iraola appointment(Image: Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher has questioned whether Andoni Iraola will be able to get Liverpool's superstars to play in the way that made his Bournemouth team so exciting to watch.

Iraola was confirmed as Liverpool 's new head coach on Thursday, just five days on from Arne Slot 's dismissal.

Liverpool quickly identified Iraola as its preferred choice to replace Slot due to the intense, front-foot style he implements, but Carragher has questioned whether he will be able to convince established top players to buy into his methods.

"What the tactical patterns cannot show is how the dynamics will be between a coach and players of a significantly different profile and personality traits than those at Bournemouth," Carragher said in a Telegraph column.

"Can Iraola turn Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike into a £310m pressing machine? Are they really that type of player? Iraola uses 4-4-2 more than the 4-3-3 of Slot and Klopp.

"Getting a tune out of £100m signings who expect to play is different from managing up-and-coming youngsters who treat Bournemouth as a stepping stone toward a bigger, higher-salaried club.

"Iraola may prove to be one of the great coaches of his era in Europe, whom Liverpool are recruiting at the perfect time, but he is a work in progress.

"This is rather like headhunting Klopp direct from Mainz, bypassing all the invaluable experience he gained at Borussia Dortmund, which meant by the time he landed in Liverpool in 2015 he was the finished product, and his presence was felt in the first press conference.

"We should not over-romanticise Klopp’s coaching journey, suggesting he never faced tough, problem-solving periods, especially when figuring out how to overcome low-block defences.

Liverpool is hoping to revert to a style of play similar to Jurgen Klopp's with the appointment of Iraola(Image: 2024 Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth)

"When Iraola was strongly linked with Chelsea, my impression was it was too soon and he would benefit from joining a club who were playing in European competition, adjusting to the demands of three games a week in readiness for the next step. Instead, he will encounter challenges at Liverpool which he has never faced."

The tone of Carragher's piece suggests he would have favored Liverpool sticking with Arne Slot, and he signed off by likening the Iraola appointment to the one Liverpool made in 2012, when Brendan Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish.

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Rodgers was an exciting young manager when he arrived at Liverpool off the back of a promising spell at Swansea 14 years ago, but he was ultimately unproven at the highest level.

"In choosing a successor with everything to prove, Liverpool have moved on from a manager who delivered the Premier League title," Carragher added.

"Fenway Sports Group is searching for the next Klopp. Iraola is reminiscent of the 2012 appointment of Brendan Rodgers from Swansea City

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