JAMIE CARRAGHER ANALYSIS: SLOT'S JOB NEARS 'UNTENABLE' AFTER 9 IN 12 DEFEATS
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher claims manager Arne Slot has just three games—against West Ham, Sunderland & Leeds—to save his job after a run of nine defeats in 12 matches.
Jamie Carragher, an Anfield icon, thinks Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, has just one week to keep his job. According to Carragher, if the team doesn't do well in their next three games, Slot could be in a tough spot.
After Liverpool's defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, which marked their ninth loss in 12 games, Slot is under pressure. The team has lost their last three games by at least three goals each. While sources say Slot's job is safe for now, things could change quickly if Liverpool's poor performance continues. They're set to play West Ham this weekend.
Carragher stated plainly in The Telegraph that the upcoming games against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds will be critical for Slot's future.
He wrote, Arne Slot has a week to save his job. It's hard to believe I'm writing that, but Liverpool's next three games are against West Ham United, Sunderland, and Leeds United. Getting less than seven points would make an already bad situation worse.
No matter how well-liked the manager is, Liverpool can't keep accepting the lower standards we've seen in the last three months.
I know better than anyone how much this hurts everyone connected to the club. Liverpool doesn't usually fire managers, especially ones who have brought success.
Carragher added, "He couldn't have asked for a better set of games to win back trust and save his job," speaking of the opponents. But if things get worse and the manager can't find solutions, the club will need to find someone who can.
Carragher thinks Slot is barely holding on and that Liverpool's form at the end of last season, including their loss to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup Final, should have been a warning.
Carragher questions the style Slot is trying to bring to the team, but also points to Liverpool's management. He mentioned that 'signing two expensive No. 9s was a mistake in the summer' and brought up the roles of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.
Carragher said, Since the beginning of this season, Slot has seemed determined to move the team in a direction that doesn't align with Liverpool's winning history. It felt wrong from day one, and it has created a mess now.
People will also question those above Slot. We shouldn't rewrite history. When Klopp left, Fenway Sports Group's top priority was to hire Michael Edwards. He brought in Richard Hughes as sporting director, then Slot came, and they won the Premier League. It was an amazing achievement in their first year.
Some might dismiss that first season as Klopp's team. I disagree. The team would have improved and might have won the title under Klopp—we'll never know—but Slot used tactics that his predecessor never would, like using Ryan Gravenberch as a No. 6 and Luis Diaz as a No. 9. He helped Mohammed Salah have the best season of his life. Before Slot arrived, people were suggesting selling the Egyptian star.
But it's unbelievable that Liverpool has since spent £450m to create a team that's unbalanced, with not enough cover on the wings and at centre-back. After selling Diaz, Liverpool entered this season without real competition for Salah and Cody Gakpo. It's easy to suggest leaving one or both out, but who would replace them?
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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