Liverpool have suffered nine losses in 12 games putting manager Arne Slot under intense pressure
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts 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 Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under mounting pressure
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Liverpool are currently grappling with a crisis, having suffered nine defeats in 12 matches. Despite guiding the Reds to Premier League glory in May, the Dutch manager is now facing immense scrutiny.
Slot achieved a significant victory in his debut season after succeeding Jurgen Klopp, but it's no secret that Liverpool's squad has significantly underperformed this year. After splashing out over £400million on new recruits, Liverpool appear a mere shadow of the team that stormed to the title last year.
While some factions of the Liverpool fanbase are demanding Slot's dismissal, it's understood that Liverpool are not contemplating an immediate decision to sever ties with their manager.
The latest news from Liverpool sees club icon Jamie Carragher voice his thoughts on Liverpool's crushing Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, while Klopp once lauded a head coach who could potentially be on Liverpool's radar should they sack Slot.
Carragher bemoans "sackable offence"
Jamie Carragher argued that Slot should be sacked for persistently choosing Ibrahima Konate in a heated tirade. The French international has been criticised for his performances this season.
Konate was once again under the microscope following a series of mistakes in their 4-1 Champions League drubbing on Wednesday. Slot later replaced Konate in the second half.
Jamie Carragher gestures
Jamie Carragher slammed Slot
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Whilst working as a pundit for CBS Sports, Carragher appeared frustrated as he criticised a number of Liverpool players. "Oh f****** hell, Gakpo," he said about Liverpool's Dutch forward, before turning his attention to Konate, who bore the brunt of the criticism for PSV's third goal.
"Oh my God, Konate. Oh my God, Konate. Watch Konate, here. Oh my God. I've f****** had enough of them, honest to God, that Konate."
The visibly angry Liverpool legend was then spotted making a phone call and attacking Slot, saying: "I mean, that's a sackable offence for the manager, he keeps picking him. He should be sacked for that. Have they scored again, 4-1. What's this, 9 [defeats] in 12?".
Though demanding Slot's dismissal in a heated moment, Carragher has maintained that the Reds manager warrants additional time.
"Liverpool is not a sacking club," Carragher told CBS. "Liverpool are different from almost every club in European football where the manager is the king. They get time. Liverpool have never sacked a manager who won the league. Never, in their history - after a few years, they've gone and resigned."
Klopp's praise for Zidane resurfaces
Whilst Slot has been compelled to field questions regarding his position, the challenge of identifying a replacement, should the Dutchman be shown the door, would represent a substantial undertaking for Liverpool.
Nevertheless, former Real Madrid manager and French legend Zinedine Zidane is one coach who has remained without a club since departing Los Blancos in 2021 and might prove an excellent option. He was even once warmly praised by former Reds manager Klopp.
Whilst Zidane possesses an impressive CV, having secured three Champions League titles and two La Liga titles, there was frequently a suggestion that Zidane succeeded with Los Blancos because he could handle the personalities within his gifted squad, rather than demonstrating tactical nous.
Jurgen Klopp and Zinedine Zidane
Jurgen Klopp praised Zinedine Zidane ahead of the Champions League final
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It was not an opinion that Klopp held. The former Liverpool manager lauded Zidane's capabilities as a coach before the 2018 Champions League final, which Madrid subsequently won 3-1.
"If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane has not a lot of tactical knowledge and then people think the same about me that would be really funny," Klopp said. "The two managers in the Champions League final have no clue about tactics? What would that say about the game?".
"For me, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best five players of all time in football. I'm longer in Liverpool than he is at Real Madrid and he can win the Champions League for a third time. That's never happened before.
"Unfortunately I have to accept that he is as brilliant as he was as a player. This group of players work like a clock from Switzerland. I saw his team playing a lot of times and it is just fantastic football. It is organised when it needs to be organised and chaos when it needs to be chaos."
Nevertheless, Zidane has been hesitant to return to management and is understood to be holding out for the French national team position, with Didier Deschamps expected to depart following this summer's World Cup. However, this doesn't necessarily mean Zidane would turn down an offer from Liverpool.
In 2022, when asked about the possibility of working in the Premier League, Zidane told L'Equipe: "Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty."