Arne Slot’s touching Liverpool gesture before last game at club | Football | Sport

Feyenoord fans serenaded Arne Slot with a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ahead of his departure to Liverpool. This Sunday’s Anfield clash with Brentford marks the end of a gruelling season for Slot and the Reds.

The Dutchman could receive a mixed reception from the Kop after Liverpool suffered from second season syndrome, finishing fifth in the table and trophyless. The vibes will certainly be different to last year’s final game at Anfield, when there were joyous celebrations as Slot guided the club to only its second Premier League title in his first season in England.

For the manager, the past two years will have been whirlwind, having been given his heart-warming send-off by the Feyenoord supporters at De Kuip before and after their last game of the 2023/24 campaign.

Slot, an Eredivisie champion the year before, guided Feyenoord to second place that year. But the fans still gave him a standing ovation as he made his way around the pitch saluting them. And, even more fittingly, they belted out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – known as the anthem of Liverpool – in emotional scenes, as he had already been confirmed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Feyenoord also use the song as their anthem, meaning Slot was already very acclimated to the iconic words by the time he took charge of his first Anfield fixture. It may have even helped bridge the transition as the 47-year-old made a seamless start and went on to lift the Premier League trophy.

Last year, a jubilant Slot sang Klopp’s song while holding the microphone and was sprayed with champagne during the Anfield title celebrations as the crowd joined in. The atmosphere at Anfield is expected to be different this time around, not least because of how divisive Slot himself has become.

Some would not have even expected the manager to make it until the end of the season, having come under intense pressure after overseeing a woeful Autumn run which saw the club lose six of their seven matches. Question marks over Slot’s future persisted until recently, with some sections of the Liverpool support hoping club legend Xabi Alonso would be appointed in his place at the end of this season. Instead, Alonso’s move to Chelsea has made it clear Liverpool’s hierarchy have decided to stick with Slot.

The manner of Mohamed Salah’s departure, having clearly fallen out with the manager, and his send-off at Anfield this weekend, may only fuel the negative sentiment towards Slot. Salah recently launched a stinging criticism of Liverpool’s season and style of play under the Dutchman, further highlighting the contrast between Anfield a year ago and now.