Arne Slot didn’t shy away from answering tough questions after Liverpool slipped up in their quest to clinch Champions League football away at Aston Villa on Friday night.
Liverpool needed just one more Premier League win on Friday night, when travelling to Villa Park, to seal a spot in Europe’s elite competition next season.
This was easier said than done, however, as the Reds faced a formidable opponent in Unai Emery‘s hosts, and courtesy of some clinical finishing from both Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, they picked up their own Champions League clinching victory in a rampant 4-2 win for the West Midlands outfit.
"So, so proud" 🙌
Unai Emery reacts after Aston Villa beat Liverpool 4-2 in their last home game of the season 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/ucqLOI9CNC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 15, 2026
Emery heaped praise onto his players at the full-time whistle, as the Villans will be playing in the Champions League next season, regardless of the outcome of their approaching Europa League final.
In Liverpool’s unfortunate corner, though, they will need to go again on the final day of the season and overcome Brentford to seal their own spot among Europe’s elite clubs, with Arne Slot having to answer several difficult questions at the close of the 4-2 defeat, as his future in the Anfield dug-out continues to be on uneven ground.
Slot responds to a barrage of questions after Villa defeat
The Dutchman is under intense pressure now to pick up a win on the final day to save Liverpool’s season, and to save his own skin on the sidelines.
Thankfully, the Reds do return to more comfortable surroundings in Anfield on the final day, as the Merseyside giants slipped up to another away defeat at Villa Park.
Liverpool FC 2025/26 Form Breakdown:
Form Games played Wins Draws Losses
Home 18 10 5 3
Away 19 7 3 9
Total 37 17 8 12
Off the back of being on the receiving end of a relentless Villa performance, Slot and Co. have now lost a damaging nine away games this season in the Premier League, from 19 total outings.
Slot would be asked about his thoughts as to why Liverpool’s away form has been so abject as of late, with the under-fire head coach stating: “In general teams struggle more away from home but for a top team like us it’s far too many losses and dropped points.
“That hugely has to do with the way we concede is far too easy in general.
“We have chances but we’ve not been as clinical in fishing them this season as we were last season. It doesn’t help that [Alexander] Isak has hardly played for us or that Hugo [Ekitike] has been unavailable. It is what it is.
“Next week, Brentford is where our focus is.”
All of Slot’s attention will now shift towards the last game of the season against Brentford, with the former Feyenoord head coach having to dust his players down quickly, to try and inspire his downtrodden troops to crucial three points against the Bees.
He was further asked his thoughts on his long-term future in the Anfield hot-seat, with the 47-year-old brushing aside talk about his precarious job position when quizzed.
He said: “It’s not about me it’s about us being disappointed with the result. I spoke yesterday on it and that’s enough.
“Our focus is on the Brentford game and making sure we earn the support of the fans by starting the game aggressive and well.
“The culmination of the fan support and a good performance will lead us to what we want to achieve and that is qualifying for the Champions League.”
🚨 Arne Slot on position as manager:
“It's not about me it's about us being disappointed with the result. I spoke yesterday on it and that's enough. Our focus is on the Brentford game and making sure we earn the support of the fans by starting the game aggressive and well. The…
— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) May 15, 2026
Slot will want to see a much improved performance from the drab one that was served up against Villa, with the heavily criticised head coach potentially starting Mohamed Salah to gift this team a lift from minute one, to ensure a win is secured during the magical Egyptian’s last ever outing to Anfield.
While he was tight-lipped on his future, he will know that a failure to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season will make his position untenable, meaning the final day of the season is likely win or bust for the Premier League title winner.