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Pressure is mounting on Liverpool boss Arne Slot after Saturday's 3-2 loss to Bournemouth as the Reds dropped out of the top four
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is under increasing pressure from supporters after Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Bournemouth.
The Reds conceded a goal deep into stoppage time to drop more points in the race for the Champions League spots. They are now outside the top four after Chelsea and Manchester United moved above them on Sunday, following respective wins over Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Bournemouth had won just one of their last 14 games before beating Liverpool while the defeat now leaves the Reds with just four points from their last five games.
Reports from Spain emerged after the loss on the south coast and according to AS, Liverpool are trying to assess their options, should they opt to sack Slot, and are looking to find out ‘if they can count on Alonso’. The Reds have been in ‘positive contact’ with the former midfielder’s representatives, which has brought ‘relief’ to the club.
Alonso is out of work having left Real Madrid recently. He was linked with the Anfield hot-seat when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure but opted to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, having won the Bundesliga title with the club.
He lasted just a few months at Madrid, however, with some reports claiming there were big names in the dressing room unhappy with his tactics and strict rules off the pitch - which eventually led to his sacking.
Slot is set to remain in charge for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Qarabag FK as the Reds hope to finish in the top eight and avoid a two-legged knock-out play-off in February.
However, amid reports there has been contact with Alonso. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has refuted those claims but insisted the ex-Liverpool midfielder will be back in management soon.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “At the moment, I'm not aware of any official contact between Liverpool and Xabi Alonso. Any direct contact between Liverpool and the agents of Xabi Alonso. What I keep telling you is something very clear, I told you already the day Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid decided to part ways. Xabi will be back soon."
Reflecting on the defeat to Bournemouth, Slot said on Saturday: “Frustrating, of course, because conceding a goal is always frustrating but especially if there's no time left to come back into the game. I think it's safe to say they could have scored the 3-2 also a little bit earlier and what I mean with that is I think after we scored the 2-2, we were still trying but I think it's safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy.
“I cannot even criticise them for that because two days ago we had to play an away game in Europe. We are the only team that played [in the] Champions League that has two days between in this time.
“After an away game [then] another away game against one of the most intense teams in the league. I mainly, as you see, play the same players because of the players we have available. So then, what should not have happened is that you have to win it in the end because that's then more difficult.
“That's what you saw in the last 10 minutes. I think for the rest of the game it was completely different, I think there we dominated the game.”
Slot is likely to have until the end of the season with Liverpool - unless results continue on a downward spiral. The club’s poor form is seriously harming their chances of playing Premier League football again next season.
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