Liverpool’s top-five hopes suffered a massive blow when they lost 2-1 to bottom-placed Wolves at Molineux earlier this week. Following that defeat and even before then, Arne Slot has been under immense pressure, and there is a lot of talk about his future at the club.
According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, the Reds have already made a decision regarding his future. They will only sack the Dutch tactician if he fails to secure UEFA Champions League qualification.
Arne Slot, who took charge of the club in the summer of 2024 following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, led them to the Premier League title in his first season incharge. However, he has not managed to replicate those performances this time around.
Despite having spent a fortune on reinforcing his squad, Slot’s charges have not been able to deliver the desired results this term. The defeat to Wolves earlier this week, thanks to an injury-time strike by Andre, was their third loss in the last seven outings.
The Reds are sixth on the table with 48 points in their 29 outings. While they are level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea and are very much alive in the race for Champions League qualification, the Merseyside club cannot afford to drop any more points with just nine games to go.
While speaking about Slot’s situation, O’Rourke said, “Yeah, it’s been a very inconsistent campaign, (with some) very damaging defeats like the one in midweek to Wolves. I think the only way he will be sacked would be if Liverpool failed to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Champions League, because that would be a huge blow to them financially as well.
“Look, Arne Slot obviously finds himself under pressure, because it was the fifth time that Liverpool have conceded an injury time winner this season, which is a new record as well. There was a real missed opportunity against Wolves to pile pressure on the rest of those teams in the race for the Champions League. If things don’t improve, and Liverpool were to miss out on the Champions League, it will put serious question marks over Slot’s long-term future.
A few more disappointing results could significantly hamper their chances, and it could cost Arne Slot his job. Given what he achieved last season, the Reds want to back him for as long as possible. However, he could be sacked if they fail to qualify for Europe’s biggest cup competition.
Since the Reds have made it to the last 16 of the Champions League this season, they can secure a spot in the next edition by winning it in Budapest in May. However, for that to happen, their form certainly needs to improve. An FA Cup win alone won’t be enough to keep the Dutch manager in the job.
