Liverpool sunk to a new low against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night and pressure is mounting on the head coach
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been warned that now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions when it comes to Arne Slot's future at Anfield.
Liverpool's predicament sank to an even deeper low on Wednesday night at the hands of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Less than five minutes into the meeting at Anfield, the hosts were behind after Virgil van Dijk gave away a needless penalty for handball.
Dominik Szoboszlai restored parity 10 minutes later and, despite a promising 25 minutes in the run-up to half-time, the performance after the break reverted to the shambles that has been on display over the last two months. Three goals conceded in the second half meant Liverpool fell to a dismal 4-1 loss, compounding their worst run of form in more than 70 years.
As a result, there has been plenty of discourse around the head coach's position and whether it has indeed become untenable. Former Liverpool players and a number of pundits have shared their views, with Stephen Warnock insisting this is no time for knee-jerk reactions.
That said, the pundit also recognised that Liverpool's performances have been poor for the majority of the season, even when they were scraping wins.
"At the moment things are not clicking and it all feels very difficult," the former Liverpool full-back told BBC Sport. "The defeats are just adding up at the moment, and compounding things so they get worse and worse.
"Is it down to over-confidence? I actually don't know why, and it is very strange. But there is an apparent lack of fight, which is very hard to see.
"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."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: A dejected Alexander Isak of Liverpool and Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool walk off at full time during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
A dejected Alexander Isak and Ibrahima Konate walk off at full-time following Liverpool's 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League
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That sentiment was largely echoed by another former Red, Steve McManaman, who insisted it's still too early to call for the manager's head and rushed to his defence. "I think no. I think it's far too early, what he's achieved and where he is now this year, that's a good run of fixtures," McManaman explained to TNT Sports.
"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.
"You have to give him time for the signings, who have constantly been injured, they're ones you'd expect to come in and lift the team. If anything, they've detracted from the team, they look lopsided.
"It's far too early to ask a manager that question when he's achieved so much in a small space of time, I do understand the world we live in, that question will be bandied around."