LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Liverpool sacked manager Arne Slot on Saturday, saying the club were seeking a “change of direction”, after a disastrous defence of their Premier League title.

The Reds finished fifth in the table, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, despite spending a Premier League record of nearly £450 million ($605 million) on new players in one transfer window last year.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner after leading the Cherries into Europe for the first time in the club’s history.