In late May 2015, FSG made the decision to keep faith with then manager Brendan Rodgers after a failed campaign with Liverpool, just four months before replacing him with soon-to-become legendary Kop icon Jürgen Klopp in October 2015.
It’s now late April 2026 – 11 years later – and the man that succeeded Klopp, the much-maligned Arne Slot, is set to be shown the same faith and hope in better days that FSG showed Rodgers.
A report from The Guardian was published in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s historic 6-1 defeat to Stoke City, that marked the end of Steven Gerrard’s uniquely inspirational career at Anfield.
The parallel’s between the imminent end of Mohamed Salah’s own Anfield folklore legend of a season is striking.
An optimist would hope this omen promises another Klopp-messiah like figure could follow Slot, but if FSG mimic their faith in Rodgers now, it might be that Xabi Alonso, the main most feted as the likeliest saviour for Liverpool, will be unavailable if or when Slot is given his marching orders.
Alonso, like Klopp in 2016 when he left Borussia Dortmund, is fresh off a managerial departure, leaving Real Madrid.
The avoidably cost mistake: £120m loss of revenue at stake is on FSG as much as it is on Arne Slot
Liverpool could miss out on £120m worth of revenue in 2027 if they fail to finish fifth in the Premier League this season and fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. Revenue for taking part in Europe’s elite club tournament is made even riskier than normal after Liverpool spent £460m on transfers last summer.
Now with Liverpool faced with selling to buy after a shocking season, their transfer budget will be slashed if they fail to finish fifth, with Slot discussing FSG’s buy-to-sell policy recently.
He said: “I don’t think that if this club has been successful the way we are having, we are going to change our model completely after a season that has not been so great. Especially because in the 16 years they are here, they have not won the league 16 times.”
While Slot is primarily at fault for his team’s failures on the pitch this season, if Liverpool fail to achieve Champions League qualification it will be on FSG entirely.
Countless major red flags have been appearing since before the start of 2026, and if the season ends zero silverware, losing 18+ games and failing to qualify for the Champions League, it will be FSG that are accountable.
Then, if they do decide to replace Slot for whatever reason midway next season, it will be after ignoring their own history with Rodgers and Klopp.