Liverpool manager Arne Slot has come under pressure at several points throughout the campaign after a number of poor resultsplaceholder image
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has come under pressure at several points throughout the campaign after a number of poor results | Getty Images
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has come under pressure at several points throughout the campaign after a number of poor results
Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool head coach is not under any immediate threat, it has been claimed.
A report from Spanish outlet Fichajes said Slot would not continue ‘beyond this week’ and that Liverpool had made their decision following ‘a season that has fallen far short of initial expectations.’
Liverpool travel to Arsenal in the Premier League on Thursday night. There are 14 points between the clubs, with Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear at the top of the table and with the chance to extend that lead to eight points if they can beat Liverpool.
The Reds won the title in Slot’s first season at the club but the Anfield outfit have failed to match last term’s performance levels and are now in a fight for a Champions League spot. They have suffered some bad losses, with consecutive defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven on Merseyside back in November a particular low point.
However, The Athletic’s chief Liverpool reporter James Pearce has given some insight into how the Liverpool hierarchy are feeling about Slot and his position as head coach.
Asked if Slot was in any ‘immediate danger’ of being sacked by Liverpool if they lost to Arsenal, Pearce said when speaking on Off the Ball Radio: “No, my information is that his job is not in any jeopardy at the moment - and I don’t think it should be.
“Because, Liverpool are in those Champions League places despite all the problems they have had. When I speak to people who are senior at Liverpool, there is a lot of compassion and understanding for the things Slot has had to contend with.
“Not least the tragic loss of Diogo Jota in July. You cannot just overlook something like that. It is impossible to quantify just how much of an impact that has had.
“I think he has made mistakes, there is no question about that. Last season, everything he touched turned to gold. This time around, tactically he has got it wrong at times. His substitutions have not had the same impact as last season.
“There are also a lot of things that have gone wrong that were beyond his control.”
He added: “I certainly don’t think Arne Slot’s job is on the line going to the Emirates on Thursday night. To me, that would be absolutely non-sensical.”
One of Liverpool’s biggest problems if they decide to sack Slot is who they could bring in to replace him. The Reds have been previously linked with a move for former midfielder Xabi Alonso and while he is under pressure at Real Madrid, he remains in employment.
Former boss Jurgen Klopp has been mooted by some for a return but the German is unlikely to make his way back to Anfield in a managerial capacity.
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