**The 1-1 draw against Chelsea was the final straw for the Anfield faithful. The audible frustration at full-time signaled a new low in the relationship between the fans and the dugout, leaving the board with no choice but to act. The decision that has been looming for weeks has finally been made**
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have been known in the past for making their decisions at the best time as possible to allow the club to move forward.
They sacked Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2012 despite winning the League Cup and losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea, and Brendan Rodgers was sacked in October 2015 to introduce Jurgen Klopp.
Due to the German constantly delivering silverware and on-pitch performances, he was allowed to leave on his own accord, though that decision may not stand with Arne Slot, who is [facing real pressure at this stage](https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/fabrizio-romano-arne-slot-liverpool-sack-update/), at least that’s what fans may believe.
[The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/arne-slot-liverpool-premier-league-chmw7gv68) report that, “internally, Liverpool remain in support of Slot and are planning another summer of signings to correct the faults that remain evident after last summer’s £450 million spending spree.”
The Dutch head coach has had factors that have gone against him this year, which the higher-ups believe is a reason why he should be given another chance to put the club back on the correct path. This is a case for several people at the club.
“Richard Hughes, Michael Edwards, and the FSG president, Mike Gordon, have been of the opinion that a number of unprecedented challenges have complicated this season.”
Much of that faith comes from his first campaign on the shores of Merseyside, where he helped the club win the Premier League title, their second in five years.
If he can return to that, the club will be well within their rights to place their trust in the Dutchman, though it’s hard for many supporters to see the drastic shift in style to return to the old days.
Hughes and Edwards are paid big bucks by the Reds to make the big decisions to ensure the team can achieve glory, and it seems they have made that choice. Time will only tell us whether it was correct or not.
While it does seem the club have made their stance, it’s hard to believe that Liverpool would simply just allow all of their plans to be revealed. There is a great chance the Dutchman remains in his position, though it’s tough to believe they will simply look past the 19 games the club have lost this season.
Outside of Xabi Alonso, top managerial targets such as Andoni Iraola are involved in Champions League battles themselves, which will help the teams continue their drive towards success.
It’s not just defeats that are angering Kopites, though, it’s also the way his side is being set up, in a defence-first, pragmatic approach, something the team have been very unfamiliar with outside of Rafael Benitez’s time in the dugout, where he was dealing with lower-quality players compared to Slot.
He has indeed had many parts of the season go against him, though there was an expectation that we would see improvements in the team by the new year when they were struggling back in November. With two games left of the Premier League season, it’s hard to identify solid adjustments which have made the team either tougher to beat or better in attacking areas.
Giving him a large summer budget again can also be difficult to digest, as supporters are yet to bear the fruits of last summer’s rebuild. A player like Florian Wirtz, who was one of the best in the Bundesliga, has yet to find his place in the team and whether he plays behind the striker or off the left.
The truth is, Slot hasn’t helped himself, and outcomes haven’t helped him. Overall, it feels like the soul of Anfield is being ripped out each week as they look for someone to inspire them on the pitch or in the dugout. Right now, no one is doing that, which is having an impact on the fans. In a few weeks, Kopites will know if he is leading them, but for many, it will take a lot to get back on their side.