A year ago, Arne Slot’s stock as Liverpool manager could hardly have been higher.
In his first season, the Dutchman had led them to the Premier League title, and club bosses backed him to the tune of more than ₤450 million in the transfer market.
And when they won the first five games of this season, it looked like he was on the way to more success.
But the wheels have come off in a spectacular fashion, and the club have now lost 19 games in all competitions this season, their latest defeat coming at Aston Villa, making it the worst in the modern era.
Many Liverpool fans have seen enough. The team was booed off at half-time and full-time after the game with Chelsea last weekend, whilst Slot’s decision to substitute teenager Rio Ngumoha was met with widespread derision.
And even those fans who believe that Slot has credit in the bank after what he did last season, are beginning to have serious doubts.
The way that he has helped bring Mo Salah’s career at Anfield to an end has also not helped his standing with part of the fan base.
But now Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, face a dilemma. Do they stick with Slot, taak him with the job of getting things right, and give him even more money to spend?.
Or do they fire him and try and bring in someone new, with the proviso that long-trem target Xabi Alonso is now being heavily linked with the Chelsea job.
They do not have the luxury of time either. A new manager will need time to get their feet under the table, and because it is a World Cup year, potential targets may need to be identified early.