Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is reportedly under pressure to quickly turn things around at Anfield
Liverpool’s busy run of fixtures continues on Thursday night as they travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Reds beat the Gunners 1-0 at Anfield back in August thanks to a stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai. However, both clubs have been on different trajectories since that result.
Arne Slot’s side have lost several games and struggled to reach the performance levels that saw them win the Premier League title in the Dutchman’s first season at the club.
Liverpool’s last defeat was in late November when they lost 4-1 to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield with the Reds now unbeaten in nine games but they have failed to blow teams away. They almost relented to nine-man Tottenham back in December and needed a strong Conor Bradley intervention to beat Wolves - who had just two points at the time.
The Reds have drawn their last two games with a dour 0-0 stalemate against Leeds United at Anfield last week while they conceded in the 97th minute in a 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday. They had taken the lead in stoppage time but Harrison Reed’s stunning strike grabbed a point for Fulham.
Spanish outlet Fichajes reported on Monday that Liverpool were ready to make the shock move to sack Slot. The decision was claimed to have been made for the Dutchman to not continue beyond this week “after a season that has fallen far short of initial expectations.”
There is no doubting that Liverpool’s campaign has not lived up to the expectations - especially after the club spent £450m to bolster Slot’s squad.
Liverpool World view - Arne Slot has six games to save his job
Slot is likely to remain in his Anfield post for the time being but there is no doubting that performances need to improve. While going nine games unbeaten is a positive, Liverpool threw away a 2-0 lead against Leeds in that run and almost did the same thing against Tottenham and Wolves.
They also needed a last-minute Federico Chiesa goal-line clearance to avoid a home loss against Sunderland - defeat in that game could well have cost Slot his job as it would have been a fourth loss in five.
Liverpool play Arsenal, Barnsley, Burnley, Marseille and Qarabag in their next six games. The Premier League games will require improved performances as losing to Arsenal will likely not lead to Slot being sacked but he will be expected to beat Burnley and Bournemouth.
Losing to Barnsley could well lead to Slot being sacked. Barnsley won on their last visit to Anfield with a shock FA Cup win back in February 2008. That upset didn’t see then manager Rafael Benitez lose his job but the current performance levels under Slot and the losing run through the autumn will not help his case if the Tykes pull off a shock.
It is the upcoming Champions League games with Marseille and Qarabag could define the Reds’ season. Liverpool have the chance to finish top eight and Slot will be expected to get Reds into the last 16.
He essentially has six games to prove he can improve performances and turn things around - or the Reds might consider moving on.
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