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.
MOHAMED SALAH SET TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL: FENERBAHCE PREPARE STUNNING THREE-YEAR CONTRACT OFFER
After a decade at Anfield, Mohamed Salah's next move is the talk of football. Will he join Messi or stay in European leagues?
Mohamed Salah looks set to leave Liverpool this summer, and it sounds like he wants to stay in Europe. One of the hottest rumours right now is about Fenerbahçe; they’re ready to offer him a three-year deal worth around £52 million. That’s a huge pay packet, but probably not as big as what he’d get in Saudi Arabia.
Salah’s been on Merseyside for almost a decade, and it’s hard to overstate just how much he’s done for Liverpool. Since joining in 2017 with Jurgen Klopp in charge, he’s picked up two Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. Pretty impressive, honestly. But this season hasn’t gone his way, and new boss Arne Slot dropped him for a few games after his form dipped. When Salah announced in March that he’d be leaving, people started up with transfer rumours right away.
In recent years, clubs from the Saudi Pro League have shown considerable interest. Last year, Al Ittihad went as far as slapping a £150 million offer on the table, but Liverpool turned it down.
Now the story goes that Salah wants to stay in Europe even though he’d pocket way more in Saudi Arabia. Reports out of Egypt claim Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho’s old club, have already sat down with Salah’s agent. They apparently laid out their big plans, offering £17.3 million a year with a three-year contract, and they want to build the team around him to end their league title drought stretching back to 2014.
There’s also talk of Real Madrid getting involved. Still, their transfer policy usually steers clear of handing massive contracts to players pushing the end of their careers, even superstars like Salah. Clubs in Italy, like Roma, Juventus, and Inter Milan, are keeping tabs on him too. And just to make things more interesting, someone floated the idea of Salah joining up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in the MLS, though the league's salary cap throws a wrench into that.
At this point, everybody’s watching Salah’s next move; the only certainty is that he won’t be short of offers when he finally says goodbye to Liverpool.
WHY IS LIVERPOOL HESITATING TO HIRE XABI ALONSO DESPITE OVERWHELMING FAN SUPPORT?
Liverpool has contacted Real Madrid to investigate Xabi Alonso’s tenure, as pressure grows on current manager Arne Slot at Anfield.
Liverpool have reached out to Real Madrid to ask about Xabi Alonso, but honestly, there’s some debate going on behind the scenes. People have been talking about Alonso stepping in at Anfield, especially since Arne Slot’s season hasn’t gone over well. Fans let out some boos after that 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and the mood is pretty tense. Even though Slot led Liverpool to a league title last year, quite a few supporters seem fed up with him and would rather see Alonso take charge.
But Spanish outlet AS says Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to get the inside scoop on what happened during Alonso’s time at the club. It sounds like the decision-makers at Liverpool are starting to feel unsure about him, and they might actually stick with Slot for another season.
Alonso landed the Real Madrid job last summer after doing wonders at Bayer Leverkusen. Still, just six months in, Madrid let him go, reportedly because the locker room was falling apart. Liverpool’s relationship with Real Madrid is strong, and they apparently want some honest feedback – kind of like asking for a reference from a past employer, which isn’t unusual.
Liverpool’s spot in next year’s Champions League is almost locked in, but with two games left, it’s not guaranteed yet. When asked about the boos, Slot admitted he has some work to do to win fans over.
He said, “Not this season. Fans won’t change their minds now. But if we get the summer we’re planning, I’m convinced we’ll be a different team next season. Results, style, everything. It’s not always easy, though. Sometimes you know what needs fixing, but getting what you want isn’t so simple. This season, it’s been pretty clear what we’re missing. We’re trying to solve it, but one issue is simply having enough fit players. Still, our guys show every week in the second half that they’re giving everything they’ve got.”