Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts at full time following defat during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts at full time following defat during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool lost 4-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals and have been beaten 15 times in all competitions this season.
Phil Jagielka has explained how Arne Slot should try to convince Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) to remain in charge next season as his role as head coach remains under significant scrutiny.
The Reds’ 4-0 humbling to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals was another low ebb in a lacklustre season. After winning the Premier League in Slot’s maiden campaign, Liverpool’s title defence has been insipid. They sit just fifth in the table and have a battle on their hands to qualify for the Champions League. Meanwhile, the European Cup is their only chance of winning silverware but playing reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
With the Reds losing 15 times in all competitions, significant sections of fans are calling for Slot to be axed from the Anfield hot seat. He faces a monumental task if he is to overcome the detractors.
It remains to be seen whether FSG will opt to part ways with Slot, whose contract expires in June 2027, at the end of this season. Slot will not doubt feel he is capable of turning things around - and Jagielka reckons that recruiting centre-backs will be important.
Speaking on the Monday Night Club, the former Everton captain said: “If Arne Slot walked in there and said: 'Give me next season' he says give me a centre-half or two, give me a strike force that is fit and you will see a different team.
“Whether that will make a difference or not, but I think that is what he will argue. They should have got a centre-half in the summer and didn't. They have not had Isak; OK, he wasn't playing great before he got injured but they have not had him.
“Obviously, we know the news that Salah won't be there next season so that could be a slightly different formation or maybe a bit of a less of a headache of how to play him. I think if you are Arne Slot and are going in the speak to your board, that is how you sell, I won't say the dream, but you say sign me three players, a couple of defenders and maybe another forward option and he'd probably back himself.
“He might class himself as being a bit unlucky or naive not getting another defender but they are two positions where they have struggled.”
However, given Liverpool spent circa £450 million on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike last summer, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton caveated that FSG may be reluctant to give Slot another war chest.
Sutton said: “Right-back has been an issue but the owners could turn around and say: 'How much will that set us back? £450 million and the team has gone into regression, why should we give you another £300 million or whatever?”
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