Another Premier League manager under pressure after ‘civil war’ breaks out at club

Last Updated on 5 January 2026

2026 has not been kind to managers in the United Kingdom with Ruben Amorim, Enzo Maresca and Wilfried Nancy losing their jobs already.

The Premier League is even more cut-throat of an industry with six managers already getting the sack in the 2025/26 campaign. There’s increasing pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham and Thomas Frank at Tottenham, too.

But, another manager at a top job in the Premier League has come under scrutiny after reports emerged of a ‘civil war’ breaking out behind the scenes.

Arne Slot’s growing rift with Liverpool’s hierarchy

Reports from Anfield Watch suggest a genuine “civil war” has been brewing at Anfield since the summer. It is centred on Arne Slot’s approach to recruitment and youth development.

The Dutchman is understood to have clashed heavily with sporting director Richard Hughes over Liverpool’s transfer strategy, creating tension that has never fully dissipated.

While Liverpool head into a tough run of fixtures on a nine-game unbeaten streak, performances have rung alarm bells.

Draws against Fulham, Leeds United (twice) and Sunderland have frustrated supporters. Meanwhile, narrow wins have come through attritional football rather than control or creativity.

Slot has undeniably stabilised Liverpool defensively, but at a cost. The attacking structure looks improvised, lacking identity or rhythm, and fans have struggled to connect with what they are watching. Internally, concerns run deeper than tactics.

Liverpool’s hierarchy have a clear vision for how the club should operate. That includes integrating elite academy talent into the first team. A principle that defined the latter years of the Jurgen Klopp era. Slot, however, is understood to have taken a very different stance.

Why youth development has become a flashpoint for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes

The flashpoint came over young prospects Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni. After impressive pre-season performances, Liverpool’s recruitment staff pushed for both to receive genuine first-team opportunities.

Under Klopp, that pathway was clear. Players like Stefan Bajcetic and Jarell Quansah were trusted after strong pre-seasons. Slot, however, wanted Ngumoha loaned out following Luis Diaz’s sale and pressed for a replacement, targeting names such as Bradley Barcola.

Hughes reportedly refused, insisting that Ngumoha be integrated. Slot has since resisted that directive, barely using the winger despite pressure from above. The standoff has become symbolic of a wider philosophical divide.

Liverpool have gone to considerable lengths to bridge the gap, synchronising U21 and first-team sessions, staging an academy showcase, and even hiring Brazilian individual coach Luiz Fernando Iubel to work closely with young players.

Slot’s absence from that showcase only deepened frustrations. For Hughes and Michael Edwards, this is existential. Liverpool’s model relies on developing and monetising academy assets while strengthening the first team organically.

There is growing fear that under Slot, the club cannot achieve both. With performances faltering and internal trust eroding, the margin for error is shrinking fast.