The final threads connecting Liverpool to the Arne Slot era have been severed. Three key members of the former head coach's backroom staff have officially left Anfield, clearing the decks for Andoni Iraola's imminent arrival.

Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst have all departed following Slot's exit last month. Their departure marks the end of a brief but memorable chapter in Liverpool's recent history, one that delivered the club's 20th league title.

Hulshoff served as first assistant coach whilst Peeters held the role of lead physical performance coach. Both arrived as part of Slot's original backroom revolution in summer 2024 and played crucial roles in guiding Liverpool to immediate Premier League glory. The title was wrapped up at Anfield with four matches to spare, a testament to the impact of Slot's system and his staff's implementation.

Van Bronckhorst joined the setup more recently, arriving last summer as an assistant coach following John Heitinga's departure. The former Netherlands international had less time to embed himself in the Liverpool structure but contributed to what became a title-winning campaign.

"Liverpool FC can confirm the departures of Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst from the coaching staff," the club's official statement read. "Everybody at LFC thanks Sipke, Ruben and Gio for all their efforts and contributions to the club and wishes them the best for the future."

Their exit was always inevitable once Iraola signed his two-year deal to become Liverpool's new manager. Modern football rarely allows incoming coaches to inherit existing backroom structures, and Iraola will want his own trusted lieutenants around him as he begins the daunting task of following a title-winning campaign.

Reports suggest Iraola is keen to bring his Bournemouth staff to Anfield. That would mean assistant coach Tommy Elphick, set-piece coach Shaun Cooper, analyst Tom Webber and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre could all make the step up from the south coast to Merseyside. These are the people who helped Iraola transform Bournemouth from relegation battlers into a well-organised Premier League outfit.

The timing of these departures suggests Liverpool are moving quickly to finalise Iraola's backroom structure. Pre-season training begins next month, and the new manager needs his team in place before the serious work starts. There's no room for uncertainty when you're tasked with defending a Premier League title.

Iraola's first summer promises to be hectic. Pre-season will include a trip across the Atlantic where Liverpool will face Sunderland, Leeds and Wrexham. The tour represents Iraola's first chance to assess his squad in competitive conditions, even if the opposition comes from lower divisions.

After returning to Merseyside, Liverpool will host Monaco and Como at Anfield for friendlies that should provide sterner tests. These matches will offer genuine insights into how quickly Iraola can implement his ideas and whether his methods can translate to a club of Liverpool's stature and expectations.

The clearout of Slot's staff signals the beginning of a new chapter. Hulshoff, Peeters and Van Bronckhorst leave having achieved what they came to do, departing as Premier League winners. Now it's Iraola's turn to build something lasting, starting with assembling the team that will help him navigate the pressures of Anfield.

The pieces are falling into place for Liverpool's next era, and Iraola's vision for the club is about to become reality.