Liverpool have made their expectations of Arne Slot clear this season
The pressure is once again piling on Arne Slot’s shoulders as Liverpool’s form continues to struggle.
After their defeat to Manchester City, the Reds are now struggling to keep up with the top four, which is a significant concern for the club. They are currently sixth in the Premier League table, just two points ahead of Everton.
Manchester United are five points clear in fourth but Liverpool could benefit from England receiving an extra Champions League qualification spot. However, relying on this to get them into Europe’s top flight next season should not be Slot’s game plan.
Liverpool board outline ‘minimum expectation’ for Arne Slot this season
Qualifying for the Champions League is the Liverpool board’s ‘minimum requirement’ for Slot this season. According to Football Insider, after spending almost £450 million on new signings last summer, the absolute minimum expected from the team is to finish in the top four.
If Liverpool don’t achieve this, the board will place a ‘serious question mark’ over Slot’s ability as a manager. Missing out on Champions League football would be a significant financial blow for the Reds, who have now overtaken Manchester City as the biggest spenders on wages in the Premier League.
Figures from Deloitte’s 2026 Money League have revealed a huge increase in Liverpool’s wage bill, taking them from £386 million during the 2023/24 season, to £421 million last term.
When could Liverpool sack Arne Slot?
The Football Insider report claims that while the pressure is growing around Slot, Liverpool will give him until the end of the season before they re-evaluate his long-term position with the club.
This means that if Liverpool do fail to qualify for the Champions League, the board could well choose to sack Slot and search for a replacement. Regardless of result, it’s likely the club will look at what they feel is best moving forward anyway.
Liverpool have remained linked with former star Xabi Alonso amid the uncertainty of Slot’s position. The Reds had earmarked their old midfielder as the main candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, before they turned to Slot when Alonso opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
This season has been a rollercoaster for Liverpool, with alarming dips in form for a title-defending side. Whether that can or can’t be looked past by the board will become more clear in the summer.
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