April promises to be an action-packed month, during which time Liverpool’s season will sink or swim.
Arne Slot will be under the microscope during that time, with doubts around his future circulating on Merseyside all season long. Liverpool are still in three competitions, but that tally could be whittled down to one by May 1st.
Liverpool face Man City in the FA Cup, with a semi-final at Wembley at stake. Then, it’s a trip to the Parc Des Princes to face the current Champions League holders in a quarter-final first leg. It was plain sailing for Slot last season — this season it’s anything but.
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Arne Slot before Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League. Enzo Maresca Manager on the sidelines during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Leicester City.
Credit: Justin Setterfield/Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images
That’s why April is the most consequential month of the Dutchman’s Liverpool career so far.
Arne Slot has to keep Liverpool in the FA Cup or Champions League
Ideally, Liverpool will beat both Man City and PSG to be competing on all fronts next month. It’s possible, but feels unlikely.
The inconsistency they have shown does little to inspire confidence in the players truly turning up for all three fixtures. The minimum most fans will tolerate is one of the two. City are no models of consistency themselves, and call me crazy, but if we get them on the right night, Liverpool can beat PSG.
In the Premier League, they face Fulham and Crystal Palace at Anfield, as well as the first-ever Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson — a huge game in its own right. Everton are eyeing Champions League qualification as a realistic target.
Steven Gerrard speaks to Arne Slot during a TV interview for TNT Sports ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
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However, it’s imperative that Slot gets his rotation right. Alexander Isak is back for Liverpool, and Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike are also ready for action. They will be crucial, but a balance needs to be struck so as not to aggravate their ailments.
Liverpool cruised to the title last season, which meant losing a Carabao Cup final to Newcastle, crashing out of the FA Cup against Plymouth and losing on penalties against the eventual winners were all tolerable slips.
With no league title at stake, similar results won’t be received quite as well, especially with Slot on thin ice with fans already.
This will be a test of his mettle, and of how hopeful we can be about Liverpool finishing the season strong.
All this together is a melting pot of stakes and pressure. Let’s see if Slot can stand the heat.
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