Pressure is mounting on the Dutchman, with Livepool now facing an uphill battle to secure a Champions League place. Should he miss out, there are no guarantees Slot would be dismissed, though.
22:35, 10 Feb 2026
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Arne Slot does not think he will definitely be sacked if Liverpool misses out on a Champions League place(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot does not think that failure to earn a Champions League place will necessarily result in him losing his job at Liverpool, despite admitting that missing out on a top-five finish would be an “acceptable season”.
Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City saw the Reds drop four points behind fifth-place Chelsea, and extend their disappointing run to one win in seven Premier League matches.
It means Liverpool will face an uphill battle to gain a place in Europe’s premier competition next term, and with a tough midweek trip to Sunderland, a side unbeaten at home this season, those chances could be further reduced.
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But as Slot referenced ahead of the Sunderland trip, he arrived on the back of a season in which Liverpool competed in the Europa League. Jurgen Klopp was not fired after finishing fifth in 2022/23 - although this season that position will likely guarantee a Champions League place - and Liverpool’s current head coach hopes he could be afforded similar leeway if the season ends in unspectacular fashion.
“That is a difficult question for me to answer because I don’t decide on my future,” Slot said. “The only thing I do know is that it happened before and recently and it didn’t affect the future of that manager.
“But that doesn't guarantee anything, of course. In general, managers, especially at this club - maybe somewhere else - it is not only about results. Mainly, but not only.
Jurgen Klopp
Klopp was not sacked at Liverpool despite missing out on a Champions League spot in 2023(Image: 2022 Chris Brunskill/Fantasista)
“At some clubs, they also look at the progress the players make, the progress the team makes, the circumstances are sometimes taken into account.
“That is not at all clubs, but I think I am working at a club that does look at those things, as it has shown in the past when the club did not qualify for the Champions League.”
Slot admitted earlier in Tuesday’s press conference that this has been the hardest campaign of his coaching career and acknowledged that a year without Champions League revenue would have negative implications for the club’s finances. But would a top-five finish constitute a successful season?
Arne Slot speaking during a press conference ahead of Liverpool's game against Sunderland
Slot admitted it would be an acceptable season if the Reds missed out on the top five
“That's a difficult one because if I say yes then I can already see the headlines: 'Arne Slot thinks he's had a good season if he's going to the Champions League',” he said.
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“It's important to know what is 'whatever else' [that has happened] because if you talk about 'whatever else' we could come up with six or seven things. I'm not sure everyone is always aware of all these things.
“I think you've noticed I'm not standing here and coming out with all these excuses. But the maximum we can achieve right now is qualifying for the Champions League and that's always what we aim for - to achieve the maximum possible at this moment in time.
“It wasn't the maximum possible at the start of the season, but at this moment of time it is the maximum we can achieve.”