The pressure is mounting on Arne Slot at Liverpool. Less than a year after guiding the club to the Premier League title, the manager’s position is now reportedly under serious scrutiny following a concerning dip in form that has jeopardized Champions League qualification. The stakes are clear: failure to secure a top-four finish could cost Slot his job, according to Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool’s recent struggles are a stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded the club following a significant £450 million summer investment. A promising start to the campaign, with five consecutive victories, quickly unraveled, resulting in five defeats in the subsequent six matches. While the team did manage to navigate the Champions League group stage successfully, earning direct passage to the last 16 by finishing third their Premier League form has been deeply inconsistent.
Currently sixth in the table, Liverpool trail both Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for Champions League spots. Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth, their first loss in eleven games, served as a particularly stinging setback. Carragher, speaking on Monday Night Football, was blunt in his assessment. If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, having won the league the season before and spent as much as Liverpool, I don’t think you’ve got a leg to stand on,
he stated.
The situation is further complicated by Liverpool’s success in the Champions League group stage. They avoided the playoff round, a small consolation, but the disparity between their European and domestic performances is glaring. Slot himself acknowledged the need to replicate their Champions League form in the Premier League, though he conceded that upcoming opponents like Newcastle will present a tougher challenge than Qarabag, the team they recently defeated 6-0.
That 6-0 victory over Qarabag on , secured Liverpool’s place in the last 16, but Slot was quick to emphasize that a single dominant performance is insufficient. Showing that once is not enough, we have to show this from now on constantly,
he said. The win, however, did little to mask the underlying issues within the squad, which has been plagued by injuries and a lack of consistent performance from key players.
Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer echoed the sentiment that Champions League qualification is paramount for Slot’s future. He believes that securing a spot in Europe’s elite competition is more important than winning a trophy this season. I wouldn’t say that he has to win a trophy, but I think he has to qualify for the Champions League again to keep his job ahead of next season. That would be the big thing,
Shearer told Betfair, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The club’s remaining hopes for silverware rest on the Champions League and the FA Cup, where they are set to face Brighton in the next round. However, the focus remains firmly on the Premier League and the battle for a top-four finish. The fact that teams like Manchester City and Chelsea qualified for the Champions League last season despite suffering nine defeats, and Newcastle with twelve, offers a glimmer of hope, but Liverpool have already accumulated thirteen losses this season, a statistic that raises serious concerns.
Slot is facing a difficult task to turn things around. He has already dealt with an injury to Jeremie Frimpong, adding to a growing list of absentees. The squad is shrinking, and the manager has been forced to deploy players out of position, such as using central midfielder Wataru Endo at full-back. Despite these challenges, Slot has not indicated any plans for late transfer window activity.
The situation at Anfield is undeniably precarious. While Slot’s previous success with the team buys him some time, the club’s owners will be closely monitoring their Premier League form in the coming weeks. The message is clear: Champions League qualification is not merely desirable, it is essential for Arne Slot to remain in charge beyond the end of the season. The pressure is on to translate their European success into consistent Premier League results, and quickly.
The contrast between Liverpool’s Champions League performance and their domestic struggles highlights a fundamental issue: an inability to consistently perform against Premier League opposition. While they can dismantle teams like Qarabag with relative ease, they have faltered against teams in the top half of the table. Addressing this inconsistency will be crucial if Slot is to salvage his position and secure Liverpool’s place among Europe’s elite.
The upcoming match against Newcastle on will be a significant test. Slot acknowledges that Newcastle will be a far more formidable opponent than Qarabag, and a positive result is vital to alleviate the growing pressure. The club’s ambition remains high, but their current trajectory suggests that Champions League qualification will be a hard-fought battle.
