Liverpool owners FSG are poised for a difficult decision on the future of manager Arne Slot.
Reliable reporter James Pearce has said that FSG are poised for a tough decision on whether or not to stick or twist with Slot.
The Dutchman has been criticised for months now for his failure to get a hold on the rot at Anfield.
There appears to be two schools of thought on Slot.
The first is that the manager deserves some leeway with mitigating circumstances, voiding any critique of Slot.
The second is that Slot has failed to impact the team positively, despite the challenges he has faced.
Former Liverpool winger John Barnes falls into first.
He told Premier League Productions: “I don’t think so, you want people to be happier between now and the end of the season. Had they lost, they would not have been as happy. But I don’t think this is necessarily going to have an impact on next season.
“I don’t think these next two games, they’re probably going to be in the Champions League, will necessarily determine his future. I think it is easy to say it’s either going to be there or he isn’t, And I believe that, as far as I’m concerned, he should be here next season, regardless of what happens in the next two games.”
? John Barnes on Liverpool’s recent form:
?? “When you watch Liverpool F.C. lately, you can see something is missing compared to the level people expect from them.
The intensity hasn’t been as consistent, the pressing looks disorganised at times, and defensively they’ve looked… pic.twitter.com/W7yzzQwU3J
— ? (@markklfc) May 9, 2026
Franck LeBoeuf falls into the second camp.
LeBoeuf believes Slot will be sacked and Xabi Alonso will be appointed in his place
Former Strasbourg and Chelsea centre-back LeBoeuf doesn’t see any value in Liverpool sticking with Slot, and says he believes Alonso will the manager come the start of the 2026-27 season.
The 58-year-old told ESPN: “I was with Craig at Wembley [for the Community Shield] where we already saw what was left from Jurgen Klopp, almost nothing. Slot brought in new players, but no good tactics I would say, according to what he had.
“And we saw that team going down and down. So I think that’s somewhat the end of it. I don’t see how he can turn it to a better team.
“He said that he had almost the recipe for next season. I don’t know how he’s going to do it, saying that he can prepare but there is the World Cup so I don’t see that coming.
“I don’t think the board will wait and especially because they have Xabi Alonso available. Well, why they will wait for Slot to find something different? I think they’re going to get rid of him. I think they’re going to get Xabi Alonso and all the fans will be very happy.”
If Liverpool are going to part ways with Slot, it begs the question: why wait until the summer?
If Liverpool part ways with Slot, it will be curious to learn why FSG waited until the summer.
Michael Carrick and Manchester United have shown the value in hiring a trusted caretaker manager – a role that Steven Gerrard might have been happy to perform.
That said, Chelsea offer a counter-argument to this thought, with Calum McFarlane being hired as a caretaker manager twice this season due to the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
One way or another, Liverpool’s leadership this season has been questionable.