The pressure is growing on Arne Slot to turn things around at Liverpool and Michael Edwards could now reportedly hire a former Premier League manager.
Arne Slot admits "shock" as Liverpool crisis mounts
The 3-0 defeat at Anfield against Nottingham Forest signalled that Liverpool were in a crisis, but last night's 4-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven signalled that Slot may not be able to find his way out of that crisis. The Reds are on a historically disastrous run, having smashed their transfer record twice in the summer to back their Premier League title-winning manager.
It's the most unexpected run from a side that many backed to retain the English crown and Slot admitted that it's also been a "shock" to him in recent weeks.
"I think it is a shock for everyone. For the players, for the journalists in here, for me, for everyone. This is a shock and it’s very, very, very unexpected if you look at the quality we have. Is it a lack of confidence? I didn’t see that in the first half.
"Of course, it is hard if after losing 3-0, straight into this game you concede a goal. I saw the mentality these players have shown so many times since I am here, came back in a way you would like to come back, created chances, we kept them in their half – and after another setback by conceding the 2-1, I also saw us creating chances again to score the 2-2.
"But, in the end of the game, I did see it affected maybe one or two players that we were 3-1 and 4-1 down, that’s true."
Liverpool aren't a sacking club, historically speaking, but reports have now claimed that Edwards admires Ange Postecoglou and the pressure is growing on Slot to turn things around.
Liverpool eyeing Postecoglou as Joyce reveals crisis talks
Paul Joyce revealed on social media that the hierarchy have held talks with Slot on Thursday.
And according to TeamTalk, Edwards is an admirer of Postecoglou and has not been deterred by the Aussie's failure at Nottingham Forest or by how his final Premier League season ended at Tottenham Hotspur.
Postecoglou, who deploys an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation with a high defensive line and has publicly stated he demands "relentless" pressing from his sides, has been out of work since an 8-game spell with Forest which returned just 0.25 points per game.
Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou
Sources at Anfield told TeamTalk that Slot is "under pressure" but not in immediate danger of being sacked.
"[Is he in danger?] Yeah and no – he’s under pressure, but it’s not as black and white as some say.
"We’re going through a hard time. The death of Jota has, of course, had a serious impact inside the club, and everyone knew there would be a downturn at some point after Jurgen. We’re entering a new cycle – new head coach, new staff, younger squad profile. That was always part of the plan.
"He can’t keep losing, that’s obvious. Three or four more bad results and the conversation changes completely. But there is more leeway than people outside think. We don’t sack managers easily at Liverpool. The owners hate knee-jerk decisions and FSG still see this as year zero of a multi-year project.”
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It's a tough situation for Liverpool chiefs. Slot became just the second manager to give them a Premier League title last season, but there's no denying that recent results have been unacceptable and there are serious questions as to whether he can turn things around given his side make the same mistakes week in week out.
Slot must drop 3/10 flop who was just as bad as Konate vs PSV