Liverpool remain “steadfastly behind” Arne Slot and a sacking is “not on the agenda” despite calls for his departure, claims The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Ornstein explained in an appearance of The Athletic FC Podcast that Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group continue to back Slot in a turbulent second season.
The leading journalist pointed out that, if the club were to seek a new head coach, Slot would be the “exact profile” they would be looking for and there are no candidates they feel “better suit” their requirements.
“Liverpool, from what we hear, are steadfastly behind Arne Slot,” Ornstein said.
“He’s under contract until 2027 and they want him to be their coach. The hierarchy are determined that he is the man to get things right.
“If they were looking at a recruitment process for coaches, he’s said to be the exact profile that they would be looking at and there’s not people on the market that they think better suit what they’re looking for.
“They’re happy with him. Of course the situation needs to improve, and they think he can be the man to do that. And he’s happy there.
Arne Slot Liverpool Contract Expiry: The State of Play
**Arne Slot**‘s current Liverpool contract expires on June 30, 2027. The Dutchman signed a three-year deal upon his arrival from Feyenoord in the summer of 2024.
Joined: June 2024
Today: March 12, 2026
Expires: June 2027
Slot is currently 21 months into his 36-month contract.
“So I’m expecting this to go on and the club get to the summer – in whatever shape, it could be success, it could be with a lack of – and start to really try and mould and blend this relatively new squad.”
Ornstein added: “I don’t think taking out the head coach is on the agenda at all, even though it might be what some fans want to see.
“But it is a really interesting time and of course performance levels at Liverpool – and at other clubs – need to improve.”
He did, however, acknowledge the growing frustration with Slot’s work throughout much of 2025 and into 2026, with the 47-year-old reaching the 100-game milestone having won 36 of his first 50 and only 26 of his last 50.
But Ornstein argued that, with a top-four battle, Champions League last-16 decider against Galatasaray and FA Cup quarter-final against Man City to come, success in the coming months “could change that.”
“It is striking how big a groundswell of the supporter base seems to be dissatisfied with Slot,” he said.
“There is still a huge amount to play for this season that could change that, whether it be domestically – not so much the Premier League, but of course they’re fighting to finish in the Champions League places – and in the Champions League in particular.
“They can turn that around against Galatasaray and then they’ve got a couple of months with a huge amount to play for.”
What are Arne Slot’s wages at Liverpool?
Arne Slot earns a basic wage of €8 million (£7m) per year at Liverpool with various bonuses based on performance, according to Dutch publication De Telegraaf.
That makes him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola (£20m), Mikel Arteta (£10m) and Unai Emery (£8m).
Jurgen Klopp‘s salary was significantly higher at €24 million (£20.8m) per year, as claimed by Ralph-Uwe Schaffert, vice-president of the German FA, in 2023 per Focus.
This gap in pay reflects Klopp’s longevity and seniority at the club, with the German signing four contracts during his near-decade at Liverpool from 2015 to 2024 – his first extension came after just nine months as manager.