Liverpool have been on a poor run both domestically and in Europe, with Arne Slot's job under fire
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks dejected following defeat in the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Arne Slot has received the backing of his players at Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool will look to revive their campaign on Sunday afternoon with a victory against West Ham United. The Reds have endured dreadful form both domestically and in Europe, suffering defeat in nine of their last 12 fixtures.
Recent hammerings against Nottingham Forest and PSV have only heightened concerns about the situation at Anfield. Arne Slot faces intense pressure following this dismal run of results, with growing suggestions he could be axed if matters don't improve swiftly.
With challenging fixtures approaching against the likes of Inter Milan and Sunderland, the Reds will be hoping that three points against the Hammers will prove far more straightforward than recent victories this season. Here, the ECHO has all the latest emerging from Anfield this weekend.
Slot's 'impossible' admission
Arne Slot insists it is "almost impossible" to transform things at Liverpool overnight, but remains determined to secure positive results moving forward. Following a 4-1 defeat to PSV in the Champions League, the Reds have endured their worst period at the club in 72 years.
Slot is experiencing mounting pressure regarding his position at Anfield, with a pivotal week approaching against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United. When questioned about his ability to alter his starting XI, the Dutchman admits that the packed fixture schedule makes this impractical.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot looks on 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.
Arne Slot is under increasing pressure(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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He said: "Is the question should I change dramatically? If for example you want another system with five defenders that could be an issue. I don't even have five defenders.
"It suits the players best the system we are playing now, they have played this system probably throughout their whole career and there is hardly any training time for us. So it is almost impossible to change our complete idea about football if we play every two days."
Players' real feelings revealed
Despite mounting pressure on manager Slot, the Liverpool dressing room has taken responsibility for the current poor run of results. Mail Online reports that tensions flared following the defeat to Forest, with senior figures in the squad, including captain Virgil van Dijk, feeling frustrated by the situation.
The prevailing sentiment is understood to be that the players believe they are failing Slot. This view was reinforced by academy graduate Curtis Jones, who expressed his frustration after the PSV loss.
He said: "It's unacceptable to be honest. As I said, I don't even have the words, I'm past being angry and sad, I'm at the point now where I don't have the words. It's hard to find the words. I'm a player and a fan, I'm seeing it like this, I haven't experienced a team play like this bad and results like this.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts after the team's defeat in 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.
The Liverpool dressing room have taken the blame
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"At the end of the day, we still have that badge on our chest, until that badge goes, we're always going to fight, try get this team to where it needs to be and show why Liverpool is the best team in the world. But as of now, we're in the s*** and it needs to change."
While Slot agrees with his squad that performances haven't been up to scratch, he isn't feeling let down by his players. He said: "No, not at all. Although I do agree with you that our standards, and with our, I mean the team, [they] have not been of the standards we are used to and that we want.
"We think we can play better than we do. But last season when we did really well there was a lot of focus on certain individuals and I always said it should be about the team and the team makes the individuals look very good. If the opposite is happening, we should also look at the team and not the individuals. That's what it's about for me."