Richard Hughes addresses Arne Slot’s Liverpool position and makes transfer vow | Football | Sport
Richard Hughes speaks alongside Arne Slot (Image: LFC TV)
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has opened up about his working relationship with manager Arne Slot – and remains ‘absolutely convinced’ that their big-money signings will come good. Hughes, 46, joined the Reds alongside Slot in the summer of 2024, and whilst their debut campaign saw modest transfer activity, Liverpool splashed the cash in the summer of 2025. The Merseyside club shelled out a club-record £449million on fresh talent whilst clawing back half that figure through offloading several first-team stars.
However, Liverpool currently sit sixth in the Premier League table and Slot has come under intense pressure during their faltering title challenge. Discussing his partnership with the Dutch boss, former Bournemouth chief Hughes revealed: “Fundamentally, there’s the understanding for both parties and everyone at wide, that everything involving matchday, team selection, tactics, that’s always the manager or head coach. That’s their domain. It’s very important not to step into that.”
Hughes continued: “Of course we talk about football and performances but I always let Arne lead that. Naturally in a conversation I will come up with an opinion and not just react to Arne’s, but always waiting for the right time to share these things is critical.”
Hughes made his remarks during the latest instalment of The Reds Roundtable, which aired just one day after the January transfer window shut. Joining him were Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan and manager Slot, who reflected on his working relationship with the sporting director: “We have spoken almost on a daily basis since we started, you get to know each other even better.”
The Dutchman praised Hughes’ approach to the role, saying: “What I really like about working for a sporting director is that whenever I need him, he is there for me. But you don’t constantly feel that all the decisions you are making, he is judging them. Maybe he does but then he finds a really good way of hiding it!”
Arne Slot has faced rising external pressure in recent weeks (Image: Getty Images)
Slot elaborated on the ideal dynamic between manager and sporting director: “You want to have the backup when needed and advice, but you don’t want two eyes on top of you constantly on every decision you make. I think Richard finds that balance really well for me to work in ideal circumstances.
“I’ve worked with sporting directors who are very keen on the ones they have signed and what makes Richard special is that he’s not only focused on the ones he signed, he is there for Liverpool to win and not (just) for his signings to do well. That’s something you don’t always see with sporting directors. It’s safe to say he has a low ego.”
Hughes also touched upon Liverpool’s transfer activity, emphasising that the club has always recognised players such as £116million acquisition Florian Wirtz would require time to settle before hitting top form, as he has done in recent weeks. “You have to constantly try to help people off the pitch in their adaptation,” Hughes explained.
“It’s normal to expect that young people coming from another country would take time to adjust to their surroundings, a different type of football than they may have been used to. So much that isn’t necessarily alien but different.
Florian Wirtz has found form at Liverpool after a slow start (Image: Getty Images)
“You want to be there to support them and not suffocate them with it, let them find their own feet. All these players are here for a very good reason, they are top players. Everybody has played their part in getting them to the club and we were all very happy with what we did in the summer, not just me.
“Whether they are good, bad or indifferent in terms of signings, there’s no proprietary felt in my position, it’s a collective effort that helps these boys translate their form for which they have been brought to the club and be the best version of themselves.
“As long as the players are the right ones in the first place, and we are absolutely convinced every time we bring someone in that they are, then the performances on the pitch will quickly follow. (But) you have to make sure you don’t focus just on the new players.
“It’s a team sport and just because new people are coming in you can just suddenly leave the players who have been here for a number of years or Federico Chiesa, who has only been here for one year.”
