Liverpool will face Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend with Arne Slot old what he must do to keep his job at Anfield
Arne Slot has been sent a message about his future as Liverpool head coach(Image: Offside via Getty Images)View Image
Arne Slot has been told why Champions League qualification may be the minimum requirement to remain in charge at Liverpool beyond this season. The Reds head coach has been under increased pressure at Anfield in recent months amid the club’s disappointing form in the Premier League.
Liverpool are currently in sixth place in the top flight and dropped out of the Champions League qualification spots after their defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
In contrast, Liverpool finished third in the league phase standings of the Champions League and have booked a place in the last-16 stage, bypassing the play-off round thanks to finishing in the top eight.
Liverpool’s only realistic chances of achieving any silverware this season rest on the Champions League and the FA Cup, where they will face Brighton in the next round.
Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer believes that it won’t be trophies that Slot will be based on this season, but rather qualification for Europe.
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“They've got two [trophies] left. The FA Cup and Champions League I guess, because they're not winning the Premier League,” Shearer told Betfair.
“But it's not beyond them to win the Champions League with the form they're in, in that competition and the history they have.
“I wouldn't say that he has to win a trophy, but I think he has to qualify for the Champions League again to keep his job ahead of next season. That would be the big thing.”
Shearer also went on to explain why there has been criticisms of Liverpool this season following their Premier League triumph last term, highlighting the Reds’ defence as a cause of concern.
“Well, you can say a few managers in the Premier League are walking a tight rope,” Shearer said. “I think if you go right through, other than perhaps Arsenal, I know they had a bad result last weekend, but other than Arsenal, I think it's very similar.
“Tottenham are the same. But yeah, Liverpool, with the very high standards that they set, haven't reached anywhere near where they were last season.
“It's difficult when they're off the back of a 6-0 win at home in the Champions League and qualifying for the last eight and going straight into the round of 16.
“But I guess when you look at Liverpool and the energy that they showed last year, particularly in those midfield positions, there's so much missing. And defensively they’ve been a shadow of themselves from what we saw last season, despite the huge amounts that they've spent on players.
“That result at Bournemouth sort of summed them up last week, really for all three goals, not just the one they conceded in the last minute, which was the winner to Bournemouth. So certainly, plenty to work on, but I would say there's lots of clubs like that.”
Slot spoke ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Newcastle United in the Premier League, which will take place this weekend, explaining what he believes are the main differences between the top flight and the Champions League this term.
“I think if you look at the top eight, there are five English clubs, so that says the strength of the PL,” Slot said.
“Before the game, our results have been impacted by the amount of games with the same players and I think we have seen that in some games we have struggled with that, especially earlier on when players needed to adjust.
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“Now it is mainly the same players, the game during the week has impacted parts of our games at the weekend but there is more physicality in the Premier League than the Champions League.
“I did not see one long throw from Marseille or Qarabag. Set-pieces are a different level, so that part of the game is more developed in England than in the Champions League, but in the Champions League, we have also faced teams that are very good between the boxes.
“Premier League has become more of a box game, get it in the box. In the Champions League it is about the play between the boxes."