With the pressure mounting on Arne Slot and Liverpool, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards found themselves disagreeing about the future of the Reds boss
Alan Shearer speaking on a podcast
Alan Shearer believes Arne Slot may be in trouble if he fails to qualify for the Champions League next season(Image: Spotify/The Rest is Football podcast)
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Alan Shearer has suggested Arne Slot may need to win the Champions League to stay at Liverpool - while Micah Richards believes the Dutchman deserves another season regardless.
The pressure has been mounting on Slot with Liverpool enduring a nightmare Premier League title defence. The Dutchman also endured a humiliating FA Cup exit which saw Manchester City overcome the Reds 4-0.
Things could be about to get harder as his side travel across the channel to face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the first-leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday evening. Shearer believes this match has extra significance on Slot, as lifting the big-eared trophy may be their only way to qualify for next year's competition, with the Reds' Premier League form being so inconsistent.
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On The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer said: "It’s crazy, especially after what they did last season and the money they have spent. It just hasn’t worked for them, they’ve been all over the place, they’ve been so inconsistent. He has to get in the Champions League via winning it. I’m not even sure top five would be enough, but it’s not nice to see what’s going on at Liverpool."
In January, Shearer said he believes Slot will be sacked if he fails to qualify for Champions League football next year. The Premier League is currently the favourite to be awarded the extra spot in Europe's elite competition via the co-efficient rankings, but this is yet to be fully confirmed.
If the Premier League does earn this spot, fifth would be enough to get into the competition for next year. The Reds are currently fifth, but the race for the top five is perilously tight, with only five points separating Liverpool and Fulham in ninth place, with Chelsea, Brentford and Everton all waiting to capitalise on any mistakes.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Slot looked dejected after the loss to City(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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While Shearer believes Slot may be in trouble if they fail to get into the Champions League, Richards believes the Dutchman should have enough credit in the bank to remain in charge if they do not, citing last season's Premier League title triumph. The ex-England international said: "I’d like to see him get one more season.
"This season has been, I don’t want to say a transition and I know a lot of people will say ‘Hold on, he’s spent a lot of money.’ But their main striker has been out, they’ve had a death within the club with Jota, the whole thing with getting players over the line with contracts, the saga with Salah, nothing has been straight forward.
"I would like to see him with another pre-season and if next season it’s not going their way, then by Christmas, yeah, make the change. He’s a manager who has won the Premier League, let’s not forget, just last season."
Shearer was not so sure, replying: "That in itself is a thing that he won the league but he’s miles behind this year after spending that much money. I understand what you are saying in terms of the circumstances.
"But you’re talking about Liverpool football club for winning and spending a fortune. They might not even finish in the top five. That’s why they have to get through in the Champions League."