liverpoolecho.co.uk

Arne Slot given clear message over Liverpool future as slump sparks major concern

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has come under scrutiny after the Reds were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday evening to leave them well adrift in the title race

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is under pressure following a poor run of form

View 2 Images

Arne Slot has been told Liverpool are unlikely to make any hasty decisions regarding his future despite his team's concerning dip in form. The Reds slumped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

‌

Erling Haaland gave City the lead just shy of the half-hour mark, despite an earlier missed penalty. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk thought he had levelled the score after heading home in the 38th minute, but his goal was controversially disallowed for offside.

‌

Nico Gonzalez extended the home team's lead during first-half stoppage time with a deflected shot, while Jeremy Doku completed the scoring in the second half. The result marked Liverpool's fifth loss in their last six Premier League matches, dealing a significant blow to their hopes of retaining the title.

‌

Despite the recent downturn, Reds head coach Slot still holds considerable goodwill due to his accomplishments in his debut season at Anfield. However, Liverpool's substantial summer transfer window expenditure of over £400million has drawn intense scrutiny given the club's current form.

While acknowledging the pressure Slot is under and the disappointing return on investment so far, former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster believes Liverpool will exercise patience with the Dutchman.

Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, he said: "They're in a really bad pickle at the minute where confidence is super low. I just think that mentally, they've approached the game where they know that they're not as good as Man City and they've let them dominate.

Virgil van Dijk sarcastically applauds the referee, Chris Kavanagh.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk saw his goal against Man City ruled out after a VAR review

View 2 Images

"I think he [Slot] is under pressure because you have to be under pressure if you've won the Premier League and you've spent the money that he spent. But Liverpool aren't a team to go and make a kneejerk reaction. They won't do anything silly.

"I don't know where he's going to go from here. When you're struggling for confidence and everybody's a bit low in energy, you just need to get back to basics. They've got wor‎ld class players and they should start finding their feet."

Whilst Foster remains optimistic that Slot can turn around Liverpool's poor start to the campaign, former United skipper Roy Keane holds a different view entirely. It comes after the Reds slipped to eighth place in the Premier League table, sitting eight points adrift of current pacesetters Arsenal following their loss to City.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "I think it is crisis time for Liverpool. They know they can be beaten at Man City, we know it's a tough place to come and Man City are showing signs at being back to their very best. But to lose seven in ten and five league losses already this season, it has to be a crisis for a club like Liverpool.

"I thought Liverpool were a really weak team today. They still had moments of course. They've got that quality and they can still cause teams problems. But defensively, the goals they're giving away, the decision making. I go back to that word, lack of intensityy. They're chopping and changing, bringing subs on but they just looked really flat.

"I know Gary [Neville] mentioned there that the manager was pleased with the second-half but the game was over. It's very easy to play when you're two or three-nil down when the other team has taken their foot off the gas. They've got Forest after the international break and Forest are fighting for their lives."

For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @‌LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.

We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.

Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.

Liverpool were petrified against Man City but Michael Oliver now has a case to answer

Liverpool contact PGMOL over disallowed Virgil van Dijk goal as significant concerns raised

Liverpool can win Champions League - and Mohamed Salah absence offers Arne Slot opportunity

Liverpool handed new referee verdict on Virgil van Dijk goal as Premier League told mistake made

Jack Grealish should copy Thierry Henry now there's no Pep Guardiola to punish him

Italy manager responds to Federico Chiesa snub as Liverpool star stands firm

Troy Deeney snubs Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish to name Everton's 'best performer this season'

Andy Robertson makes Liverpool future admission with contract issue to 'take over life'

Bernardo Silva sparks angry Liverpool reaction as Man City make Hugo Ekitike blunder

Kenny Dalglish sounds Liverpool warning as Arne Slot side 'going through spell'

Alexander Isak has just seen what Liverpool need as Arne Slot's suspicions strengthened

Liverpool latest: Arne Slot points finger of blame as new verdict of disallowed goal emerges

Mood behind Everton scenes speaks volumes as David Moyes Premier League view justified

Liverpool next five fixtures compared to Premier League rivals after Man City setback

I felt Liverpool forced me to leave - Chelsea's manager even called me one night

Read full news in source page