Whilst Arne Slot's current predicament at Liverpool might appear beyond repair, the Dutchman needs only look at Jurgen Klopp's experience to realize there remains cause for optimism.
The positive sentiment Slot built from securing the Premier League crown in his debut campaign at Anfield seems to be diminishing following Liverpool's ninth loss in the team's last 12 fixtures on Wednesday. The 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League followed a 3-0 reverse against Nottingham Forest and a 3-0 hammering by Manchester City in the Premier League.
The Reds now find themselves 12th in the standings on 18 points from 12 matches, positioned beneath fierce rivals Everton and Manchester United. Slot's challenging circumstances bear a striking resemblance to Klopp's troubles during the 2020-21 campaign, which similarly arrived the season after claiming the league title with Liverpool.
Liverpool secured the Premier League championship by an 18-point margin in 2019-20. Klopp's team had also compiled a remarkable 68-match unbeaten run at Anfield in league competition. However, during a campaign conducted entirely without spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Klopp and his squad entered a downturn that resulted in SIX consecutive home defeats.
When questioned whether this sequence represented one of his most difficult periods as a manager, Klopp told Match of the Day at the time: "I would wish to say no, but yes it is."
He added: "This team is an extreme team. We were extremely successful, and now we have an extreme situation as well, but we will fight through."
Klopp also experienced a tricky spell at Anfield
Klopp also experienced a tricky spell at Anfield (Image: Getty Images)
Despite Liverpool appearing at risk of missing out on European qualification, the Reds mounted an extraordinary recovery. Following a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham at Anfield, Klopp's side remained unbeaten for the remainder of the campaign.
The German manager ultimately delivered one of his finest accomplishments during his tenure at Liverpool.
He orchestrated a remarkable run that saw the Reds secure eight victories and two draws from their final ten fixtures to incredibly claim third place in 2020-21, guaranteeing Champions League qualification.
Klopp's decisive response to the pressure he faced demonstrates to Slot that Liverpool can recover from difficult situations, potentially securing his own future in the process.
Arne Slot speaks to Liverpool bosses
During Thursday's press conference, Slot was questioned about whether he had discussed matters with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes following the PSV defeat, amid growing speculation surrounding the Dutchman's future.
He responded: "We had the same conversation since I've been here. I'm not sure if I said last night, but we fight on, try to improve. The conversations have been the same as for the past one and a half years."
When asked whether he felt disappointed by his players' performance, Slot answered: "No, not at all.
"Although I do agree with you that our standards have not been up to the standards that we're used to and we want. But last year when we did really well there was a focus on certain individuals, but I've always said it's about the group."
Similar to Klopp, Slot has pledged to "keep fighting, no matter how difficult it is." The Reds and their manager have an opportunity on Sunday to decisively salvage their campaign when they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham in the Premier League.