Key Arne Slot ally Giovanni van Bronckhorst faces Liverpool sack

Milan Keskin

• Updated: 23 Mar 2026 14:31 GMT
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Due to Liverpool's disappointing performances, Arne Slot's position at the helm is shaky.

According to Sam McGuire of Anfield Watch, a potential dismissal of Slot would also have major consequences for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The outlook is currently not good for the former Feyenoord and Rangers FC manager. Van Bronckhorst came to Liverpool in July last year as a replacement for Johnny Heitinga, who was seen as an excellent link between the technical staff and the squad.

Since Heitinga's departure to Ajax, that chemistry seems to have disappeared, and the team, which became national champions last year, have dropped far - to fifth place in the Premier League.

The arrival of the new assistant appears to have been a negative turning point in the performance of the Merseyside powerhouse.

Van Bronckhorst under fire for loss of identity

Criticism of the assistant manager has increased significantly in recent weeks, partly due to the team's poor play. "The arrival of Van Bronckhorst coincides with the loss of Liverpool's identity on the pitch, causing people to assume that he is partly responsible for this and place much of the blame on him," the criticism goes.

While Liverpool dominated last season, the team appears tactically unstable and chaotic this year, according to McGuire. The defensive vulnerability in the new formation, in particular, is being heavily criticised by the fans and the English media.

Uncertainty regarding exact responsibilities at Anfield

Although the results are plummeting, outsiders can only guess at Giovanni van Bronckhorst's precise influence on day-to-day policy. "However, no one really knows what he is and isn't responsible for," says McGuire.

Van Bronckhorst was brought in to provide individual coaching and act as a mentor for the squad, but the results of that work are barely visible on the pitch. While his predecessor, Heitinga, was praised for player development, Van Bronckhorst's role is unclear.

Future depends on impending crisis meeting regarding Slot

The position of the entire technical staff appears to be hanging by a thread. A crisis meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, during which the club management will discuss Slot's future.

Rumours of a dismissal are increasing, especially now that Xabi Alonso is being named as the leading candidate to take over during the current international break.

It is highly questionable whether there is still room in a new staff for Van Bronckhorst, who nearly left for the Indonesian national team earlier this season.

Should Slot indeed be dismissed, Van Bronckhorst's departure seems the most logical next step. The assistant was specifically appointed last year to strengthen Slot's staff, but has failed to live up to the high expectations to date.

Football transfer news headlines today

Transfer Rumours: Man Utd target Lewis-Skelly as €60m Arsenal agreement made

Exclusive: Tottenham told to get back to 'real football' by club legend

Chelsea target €75m striker to replace Liam Delap

Arsenal prepare opening bid for Viktor Gyokeres replacement

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store