Former Liverpool players and pundits including Jamie Carragher have shared their views on Arne Slot's future at Anfield amid their worst run of form in more than 70 years
Arne Slot.
Arne Slot is facing increasing pressure after Liverpool were hammered by PSV
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The inquest has already begun after Liverpool slipped to yet another dismal defeat on Wednesday night. On this occasion, it was a 4-1 dismantling at the hands of Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
It took less than five minutes for the hosts to suffer their first setback, as Virgil van Dijk was rightly penalised for a handball in the box and Ivan Perisic calmly converted the resulting penalty. Dominik Szoboszlai's equaliser 10 minutes later offered a shred of hope that the Reds could get back on track, but they started the second half poorly and went on to concede a further three goals before the full-time whistle.
The latest sucker punch puts the Reds on a run of nine defeats in their last 12 games in all competitions. Wins have been hard to come by since the end of September.
Triumphs over Eintracht Frankfurt, Aston Villa and Real Madrid have been severely overshadowed by a heavy away loss at Manchester City, and recent home defeats to Nottingham Forest and, now, PSV. Understandably, there has been plenty of commentary surrounding Arne Slot's future and whether the Dutchman can survive this torrid run of form.
With every passing defeat, the noise is becoming more deafening, but a number of pundits have admitted it would be very un-Liverpool-like to sack a title-winning manager. "Liverpool isn't a sacking club," former Reds defender Jamie Carragher told CBS Sports. 'They are different from almost every top club in European football where the manager is the king.
"The managers get time. Liverpool have never sacked a manager who has won the league. I couldn't believe after the weekend [defeat to Forest] people were talking about the manager's job, but it's only going to amplify now.
"I've always been in the camp of you stick by the manager. I'm angry with the players."
Arne Slot
Arne Slot is coming under increasing pressure(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
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Former players Steve McManaman and Steven Gerrard were also in agreement that it is probably too soon to call for the manager's head, especially given he guided them to a Premier League title at a canter only a matter of months ago. "I think no," McManaman said on TNT Sports.
"I think it's far too early [to sack Slot]. What he’s achieved and where he is now this year, that's a good run of fixtures.
"I understand the question completely, but with that run of fixtures, Liverpool still fighting in the Champions League, it's far too early to come up with a question like that. They will have to be knocked out of the Champions League and wallowing at the bottom of the league.”
Gerrard added: “That's the world we live in, that's football in the modern day. I've been in that position myself.
“You understand that if you're not getting the results, there are going to be serious questions asked, a stewards’ inquiry - that comes with the territory, especially at the top end.
“I agree, Macca. From me and you, because we lived through it and suffered. I've been on both sides. It's going to come."
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has issued his verdict on Liverpool's current form
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Stephen Warnock admitted it is disappointing to see Liverpool’s fall from grace this season and that there should not be any quick decsisions made. That said, he also highlighted that the Reds’ performances have been on a downward trajectory since the start of the campaign, even when they were scraping wins.
“I don't think there should be a knee-jerk reaction. I think this is a very tough moment at Liverpool for one reason or another, but the one thing I'd say is that things weren't right at the start of the season either, when they were winning,” added Warnock, speaking to BBC Sport.
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy echoed the sentiment that it may still be too early for a change in the dugout, but he did warn the manager faces a hugely testing week with games against West Ham and Sunderland - and his team simply cannot afford any more slip-ups. “Let's hope we don't have to have that conversation,” Murphy explained on talkSPORT.
“I like Slot, especially after meeting him - he's got a bit about him. He's bright, he's warm.
“But it doesn't matter what you've done before or if you're liked. It's irrelevant when you're constantly losing games with Liverpool. So he's got a big, big week ahead of him.”
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