A previous Liverpool manager was sacked after a disappointing result at Everton and Arne Slot knows he needs a fighting performance and a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Arne Slot is under pressure after suffering 17 defeats as Liverpool manager this season(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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It was at a different stage of the season but a Merseyside derby at Everton has proven to be the final game in charge for one recent Liverpool manager. In early October of 2015, Romelu Lukaku earned the home side a deserved point at Goodison Park and Brendan Rodgers was dismissed.
His side were tenth in the Premier League table, having won only four of their 11 games across all competitions in the formative stages of that season. In truth, for Rodgers, the 1-1 draw at Everton was almost certainly not the final straw.
A few days later, Jurgen Klopp was appointed. The decision to end Rodgers' time at Anfield - he had been in position since June, 2012 - had clearly been taken before the derby.
No such decision has been taken in Arne Slot's case. And regardless of the outcome of the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Slot will not be dismissed in its wake.
Rightly so. And as long as Liverpool finish in the top five, qualifying for next season’s Champions League, he should not be dismissed in the summer.
Not only does Slot have credit in the bank from the emphatic title triumph that marked his first season in English football, the circumstances that mitigate this disappointing campaign are more acute than most people care to acknowledge. It is inappropriate to suggest the extent of the effect of the unimaginably tragic passing of Diogo Jota, but it puts things into context.
Roberto Martinez celebrates after Romelu Lukaku scored Everton's first goal in the Merseyside derby in October, 2015, as Brendan Rodgers looks on dejected
Brendan Rodgers was sacked as Liverpool manager an hour after a draw in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith)
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On the field of play, Liverpool have had to deal with serious injuries that have occurred at regular intervals. Right now, Slot is without Alisson (hamstring problem), Conor Bradley (knee surgery), Giovanni Leoni (cruciate ligament tear), Wataru Endo (ankle ligament tear) and, of course, Hugo Ekitike, who has a serious ankle injury.
Of the other big summer signings, Alexander Isak suffered a broken leg and Jeremie Frimpong has had a recurring hamstring issue. Slot has complained about certain VAR interventions this season but has never used the serious injuries as excuses.
For what it is worth, by the way, there are mildly interesting VAR numbers regarding Slot’s concerns. If you look at net VAR interventions - those that go in your favour minus those that go against - only Everton (-4) have a worse outcome than Liverpool (-3) in the Premier League.
It is Everton up next for Slot. And while the result alone will not actually determine his Liverpool future, the performance will have a bearing on it, make no mistake.
Hugo Ekitike lies injured at Anfield
Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious injury in the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield
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Even though it turned out to be in vain, for much of the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, the players showed the intensity that has been missing from so many games. It cannot be missing against Everton.
They showed the physical robustness that has been too often absent. It cannot be absent against Everton.
They showed the passion that has not been at the required level on occasions this season. It has to be at the required level against Everton.
Even if Slot suffers the same sort of Merseyside derby defeat that saw Marco Silva’s Everton tenure immediately terminated - a 5-2 Anfield thrashing in December 2019 - it will not be the immediate end for Slot. But anything less than a full-blooded response to the recent disappointments will be the beginning of an end that will come very soon after.
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