UNDER PRESSURE: ARNE SLOT BREAKS SILENCE ON SACK RUMOURS
Is Arne Slot's job safe after Liverpool's disastrous 4-1 loss to PSV? Legends Gerrard & McManaman weigh in on his future.
Liverpool got hammered 4-1 at home by PSV yesterday, hitting a new low in their terrible run.
That's three straight losses by three or more goals and nine defeats in the last 12 games for the Reds.
With those results, the heat is on Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot. Some people are starting to think he might get sacked soon.
After last night's loss, Liverpool is no longer in a Champions League qualifying spot.
It's even worse in the Premier League, where they're sitting in 12th place, just behind Everton.
From the outside, it seems like Slot can't pull his team out of this mess.
Even after leading the team to a surprise Premier League title last season, Liverpool is now on its worst run in 70+ years with Slot at the helm.
The Reds haven't lost nine out of twelve since 1953, way back when Winston Churchill was Prime Minister.
Despite the odds, Slot seemed sure of himself and his job when he spoke to the press after the game.
Arne Slot said, “This is a shock for everyone, the players, and me. It was unexpected.
“I feel safe, though. I am okay.
“It would be great to turn things around and win, but if you're a coach and not doing well, it's normal for people to ask questions.
“If any manager around the world loses as many games as we have, people will have opinions. Whether it's fair or unfair is up to them. I think it's normal. If you lose a lot, people talk about it.
“I have a lot of support from the higher-ups. I'm okay with where I stand. They don't call me every minute to say they trust me, but I feel their support in our regular conversations.”
Should Arne Slot Be Fired?
Liverpool legends Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman talked about Slot's future after the game.
McManaman said it's too early to think about sacking Slot, even with Liverpool's current struggles.
Speaking on TNT Sports, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star said, “No, I don’t think so. He has a good run of games.
“I get the question, but with those games and Liverpool still in the Champions League, it’s too early to ask that. They'd have to be knocked out of the Champions League and at the bottom of the league.
“They play Arsenal in the second week of Jan; that's when the question should be asked. Hopefully, they'll have moved up the table by then.
“You need to give him time for the new players, especially since the constant injuries they have experienced. You’d expect them to come in and lift the team.”
Gerrard agreed, adding, “That’s the world we live in now; adding, “That’s football. I've been in that spot myself.
“You know that if you're not getting results, people will ask questions. That's part of being at the top.
“I agree with Macca because we've been through it. It's going to happen.”
Liverpool needs to win against West Ham on Saturday to ease the pressure on Slot.
WHY DID JEREMY JACQUET SNUB CHELSEA FOR LIVERPOOL? THE SECRET VIRGIL CONNECTION
Liverpool secure Jeremy Jacquet in a £60m Deadline Day coup. The 20-year-old chose Anfield over Chelsea for a summer move.
Liverpool turned heads on Transfer Deadline Day when Arne Slot jumped into the mix and snapped up one of Europe’s brightest young talents.
The Reds dropped £55 million up front—plus another potential £5 million in add-ons—to bring in Jeremy Jacquet. He’ll link up with his new teammates this summer. Chelsea hovered around the deal too, but Jacquet chose Liverpool over the Blues.
French football pundit Julian Laurens isn’t shy about his excitement. He told Sky Sports, “He’s the real deal. Sure, he’s only 20. He hasn’t played for France yet, and you won’t find him in the Champions League or Europa League. But he’s already shown so much. Last season, Rennes brought him back from a second division loan, and this year, playing under Habib Beye, he’s just kept improving. You can’t miss with this kid. He’s going to be special.
“He reminds me of when William Saliba broke through at Saint-Etienne, or even Wesley Fofana. The point is, if you really value untapped talent, you’re willing to pay big. And Liverpool just did—because Jacquet’s that promising.”
Jacquet grew up in Bondy, the same Paris suburb that produced Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, and Randal Kolo Muani. It’s up in Seine-Saint-Denis, northeast of central Paris.
His football education, though, happened at Rennes out in Brittany. He came up through their academy, playing alongside guys like Desire Doue—who won the Champions League with PSG—and Tottenham’s Mathys Tel.
Back then, Jacquet idolised Paul Pogba, but once they moved him to centre-back, he started looking up to Virgil van Dijk.
He made his first-team debut for Rennes in January 2024, then went on loan to Clermont Foot 63, who were fighting relegation in Ligue 1. Even after they went down, Rennes kept him out on loan because he did so well with the French U19 squad.
But in February 2025, Rennes called him back, and he’s been a regular for Habib Beye ever since.
Asked about his playing style, Jacquet said, “I’m calm on the ball—maybe I look a little nonchalant, but I’m always focused. What makes me stand out is playing out from the back and breaking lines with the right pass.”
JEREMY JACQUET UPDATE: FABRIZIO ROMANO CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL INTEREST BUT RENNES DEMAND CLUB-RECORD FEE
Liverpool is battling Chelsea and Bayern Munich for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet as Arne Slot faces a mounting injury crisis.
Liverpool really wants to sign Jeremy Jacquet this month, but with Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal also circling, it looks like they’ll have to wait until summer.
They just locked in a spot in the Champions League last 16 after cruising past Qarabag FK, so things are looking good on that front. This season, they’ve already faced a couple of those big clubs—snatching a last-gasp win over Atletico thanks to Van Dijk’s 92nd-minute header, but coming up short with a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in Turkey.
On Wednesday, Ryan Gravenberch ended up playing centre-back because Joe Gomez is out injured, and Ibrahima Konate is still away after his father passed away. They're really stretched at the back, especially with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni both dealing with long-term injuries. The club decided not to go after Marc Guehi this month, which let Manchester City snap him up for under £30 million.
Now, Liverpool is eyeing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. L’Equipe reported in January that Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all want him. Fabrizio Romano gave an update, saying Liverpool would love to get the deal done now, but Rennes just don’t want to sell until summer. So, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern are all talking to Rennes and Jacquet’s people, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
With all these injuries piling up, people are wondering if Liverpool might try to bring in someone before the window closes. Arne Slot responded, saying the club always tries to make smart decisions, thinking about both the short and long term. That’s why they focus on signing young talent who can still develop—sometimes you just have to be patient and trust the process.
He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t have a massive squad packed with four right-backs, a dozen midfielders, or a handful of strikers. They need to be clever about their moves, balancing immediate needs with future plans.
As for the latest on injuries, Slot said they’ll see how Jeremie Frimpong is doing—maybe he won’t be fit for Saturday, but he could be ready soon after. With just one game a week coming up, injuries should ease up a bit, but you never know with football.