Slot's Throne Already Wobbling: Why Winning the League in Year One Often Spells Trouble at the Top

There's an uncomfortable pattern emerging in the Premier League's history books, and Arne Slot has just become its fifth footnote. Winning the league in your first season sounds like the ultimate endorsement, yet the track record tells a rather different story.

When Liverpool clinched last season's title with almost contemptuous ease, the optimism around Anfield was palpable. Mohamed Salah played like a man possessed, Ryan Gravenberch orchestrated from midfield, and Virgil van Dijk was his imperious self. Everything clicked. The summer spending spree that followed suggested back-to-back titles were merely a formality. Even an unconvincing 100% record from their opening five matches felt like a minor blip—the logic of this very article suddenly looked laughable. Then the wheels came off spectacularly.

After witnessing a masterclass in tactical football under Slot's stewardship throughout 2024/25, supporters have now glimpsed the flip side of his management. Tuesday's abject capitulation at bottom-club Wolves proved the final straw for many of his once-staunchest backers. The excuses have become tiresome; the football, even more so.

So what fate awaits Liverpool's manager? History offers precious little comfort.

Mourinho's Midas Touch That Tarnished

Jose Mourinho blazed into English football in 2004 with Chelsea, fresh from his Champions League heroics with Porto, and promptly delivered exactly what he'd promised: he was special. The Portuguese tactician didn't just win the league in his first year—he added the League Cup for good measure, outperforming what Slot achieved in his debut season.

The subsequent years? Glorious. A second title followed, then in 2006/07, despite finishing second, Chelsea swept up both domestic cups. Yet by September 20 of his fourth season, Mourinho was gone. Roman Abramovich's trigger finger proved faster than any pundit's reaction time.

Should Slot match Mourinho's haul—two league titles and three domestic cups across three seasons—the Liverpool hierarchy would almost certainly grant him considerably more patience than Abramovich afforded the Portuguese boss 18 years ago. But that's a sizeable "should."

Ancelotti's Respectability Wasn't Enough

Five years after Mourinho's departure, Chelsea turned to Carlo Ancelotti, a managerial titan arriving on the back of immense success at AC Milan. The Italian duly won the Premier League in his opening campaign, adding an FA Cup to his collection. Surely this was a manager of sufficient gravitas to weather a difficult period?

Not in Roman's eyes. When Chelsea finished second and stumbled out of both domestic cup competitions early, Ancelotti was dispatched. Never mind that the Blues would go on to win their first Champions League title under Roberto Di Matteo just months later—Abramovich had already moved on.

Pellegrini's Three Years of Competence

Manuel Pellegrini became the first manager to land the top-flight crown in his inaugural season at a club other than Chelsea. It was a brilliant year for English football: Arsenal led for longer than anyone else yet imploded catastrophically, Liverpool's grip loosened, and Pellegrini's Manchester City capitalised brilliantly.

He lasted three full seasons at the Etihad, winning three trophies in that time. Yet when Pep Guardiola became available, the City hierarchy didn't hesitate. Pellegrini's subsequent career has been, shall we say, peripatetic—a sojourn in China, a miserable Premier League return with West Ham that ended mid-season, and latterly a more stable spell at Real Betis.

Conte's Acrimonious Exit

Antonio Conte swept the Chelsea board clean in 2016/17, amassing 93 points and 85 goals with imperious efficiency. After a sluggish start, he switched to three at the back and won 13 consecutive league matches. Untouchable, surely?

His second season told a different story. The wheels fell off comprehensively, Chelsea finished fifth, and despite salvaging the FA Cup, Conte departed under a cloud—though at least his compensation package of £26.6 million provided some consolation.

Where Does Slot Stand?

Among these five illustrious predecessors, Slot's record as the defending champion is unquestionably the worst. His Liverpool side has collapsed with a thoroughness that makes even Chelsea's domestic implosions look orderly by comparison. The excuses have been wheeled out; the performances have not improved.

Xabi Alonso waits in the wings, a romantic prospect for a club yearning for stability and success. For Slot, the clock is ticking loudly. History suggests it always does for men who win the league too soon.