Arne Slot is coming under increasing pressure amid Liverpool's poor season, and former defender Jamie Carragher fears he could be out of a job come the end of the campaign
James Findlater Content Editor
21:22, 26 Jan 2026
Jamie Carragher speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football
Jamie Carragher believes Arne Slot could lose his job at Liverpool(Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher believes Arne Slot could be fired by Liverpool if the Reds fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League — a fear that is becoming very real for the former defender.
Liverpool’s season hit yet another low on Saturday as it fell to a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, despite having clawed its way back level after falling 2-0 down in the first half. The loss means the Reds have picked up just four points from their last five Premier League games, while they have only won five of the last 18 league outings.
That form has seen Slot come under increased pressure for his job, with Xabi Alonso’s availability following his dismissal from Real Madrid only serving to turn up the heat.
READ MORE: Liverpool terminates loan deal amid injury crisis as transfer plans emergeREAD MORE: Liverpool news as Arne Slot favorite to be next Premier League manager fired
Although Slot has Liverpool in a strong position in this season’s Champions League, with a place in the last-16 within touching distance ahead of the final league phase game against Qarabag on Wednesday, the situation closer to home is not looking promising.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea overtook the Reds in the race for the top four at the weekend, while their hopes of defending the title they won last season have long been extinguished.
Carragher now fears that his former side is not suited in any way to the Premier League, which he feels could work against Slot, especially if he doesn’t secure a top-four finish.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: A dejected looking Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after Amine Adli of Bournemouth scored for 3-2 during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Liverpool has won just five of its last 18 league games(Image: Getty Images)
“If I think of the three big things that would stand out for me in the Premier League now that you’re coming up against, it’s set-pieces and long throws, it’s counter-attacking football, for and against, both set-pieces and counter-attacking, and if you’re a top team like Liverpool coming up against low blocks as Arne Slot likes to say… Liverpool can’t cope with any of them,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
“So what we’re seeing is a team in the Premier League that is not suited to the Premier League. But when we see them in Europe, is set-pieces as important and long throws? No.
“Is counter-attacking as important? Counter-attacking’s always important, but not as much in European football, and nobody’s just sitting there in a low block.
“So this suits Liverpool. They can beat Real Madrid, they can go away to Inter Milan and win, they can go away to Marseille and win, and they’ll finish in the top eight and be in the knockout round.
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“But, Liverpool, I think as a club and a support, can accept an almost collective responsibility around ‘we’re not going to win the league this year and we’re not going to challenge’. We accept it, not good enough but we accept it.
“Once you start seeing what Manchester United have done the last couple of weeks, once you start seeing Chelsea, when you start seeing where Liverpool could actually finish, outside the Champions League positions, I really fear for them.
“As I said, I don’t think this team is equipped for Premier League football. Once you start fearing Champions League qualification for next season, that’s when I think we’ve got a completely different proposition in terms of the manager’s job.
“That for me is completely different. If we’re talking about not winning the league or challenging for the league, that is collective responsibility, and Liverpool don’t win the league every year. Not making the Champions League from [being] champions, spending £450 million, and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is the biggest sort of determining factor normally about where you finish in the league, I think you’ve got serious questions to ask.”
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is coming under increasing pressure(Image: Getty Images)
Host Dave Jones then sought to clarify what Carragher meant by asking: “So is it Champions League or bust for Slot?
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Carragher responded: “In terms of qualifying? Yeah.
“Listen, I think some of the criticism he’s had and disrespect he’s had off certain Liverpool supporters who I see and know I think is far too much considering they won the league title last season.
“But, as I said, if you don’t qualify for the Champions League, having won the league the season before and spent as much as Liverpool do, I don’t think you’ve got a leg to stand on.”