Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has claimed Arne Slot’s “end is near” at Anfield, following Wednesday’s chastening midweek defeat against PSV Eindhoven.
The Reds were thumped 4-1 by the Dutch side at Anfield as they fell to a ninth defeat in 12. That was also the third successive game in a row Liverpool has been beaten by a three-goal margin.
Unsurprisingly, that has ramped the pressure up on Slot’s position, with last season’s title success quickly melting into the background. Now situated 12th in the table, Hamann feels it's inevitable that his time at Anfield is coming to a close.
“I believe Arne Slot has lost control of the team,” the 2005 Champions League winner told Sky Germany. “It's falling apart, everyone is doing what they want, like [Mohamed] Salah before PSV's second goal.
“Liverpool will have major problems finishing in the Premier League top four. I don't believe these problems can be solved quickly or easily.
“The situation is so complex that the club will certainly be discussing the manager's position.
“Slots' end is near,” he added. “I never thought it would come to this after the brilliant season he had lasted, but I believe his credit has now run out.”
Arne Slot
Hamann feels Slot's sacking is inevitable. (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Should Slot lose his position as Liverpool head coach, it’s clear who Hamann would like to see replace him.
“Many are already longing for Jürgen Klopp's return,” said the German. “If you ask the fans, many will surely say: ‘That would be something.’
“How likely is it that he'll return to Liverpool? I have no idea. But it would be the story of the decade. The club will already have considered alternative managers. I assume they've spoken with Klopp.”
Didi Hamann
Hamann thinks Klopp's return would be the "story of the decade" (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
The update comes as Peter Crouch claimed the Reds have “deep-rooted problems”.
“Defensively, woeful. It just didn't look like them at all. They weren't getting up to people, there was no tracking back,” the ex-Liverpool striker told Paddy Power.
“You can lose a couple of games, that's bad enough,” Crouch added. “But to lose to them in that manner, I remember playing PSV and they're a decent team, but Liverpool should be putting them away.
“These things can happen but it's happened too regularly and it's clear there is a deep-rooted problem there.”