Arne Slott’s position as Liverpool manager is under scrutiny after Liverpool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest saw them fall to six defeats in seven Premier League games.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed that he could return to Liverpool. But as pressure mounts on the Reds manager, the German manager does not appear to be preparing for an imminent return to coaching, despite being floated as a possible replacement for Arne Slott.
Liverpool have lost six of their seven Premier League games and their success in the slot at Anfield has stalled. The Dutchman impressed everyone last season by leading the Merseyside club to the title following Klopp’s departure, but was unable to build on his achievements after spending big in the summer.
The defeat to Nottingham Forest sparked discussion about Slott’s future. Bookmakers have pegged Klopp as the likely successor.
Klopp admitted in his press conference last month that he could not rule out a return to the Liverpool dugout. Asked on the CEO Diary podcast if he might return, Klopp said: “I said I would never coach another team in England. So that would mean (if I returned to England) it would be Liverpool. Well, theoretically it’s possible.”
However, the move does not appear to be imminent as Klopp appears content to be free from the day-to-day challenges of being a coach. The German national is currently Red Bull’s head of global football.
read more: Liverpool star accused of ‘running away from criticism’ after Nottingham Forest nightmareread more: Gary Neville calls for drastic action on Liverpool’s Arne Slott, citing ‘huge concerns’
As for what it would take to return to Anfield, Klopp said: “I don’t know exactly. I love what I do. I don’t miss coaching. I don’t miss it. I coach, but it’s different. I’m not a player.”
“I don’t miss it. I don’t miss standing in the rain for two-and-a-half or three hours. I also don’t miss going to press conferences three times a week.”
“I have 10, 12 interviews a week, so I don’t miss that. Not really. I don’t miss being in the dressing room. I coached about 1,080 games, so I was in the dressing room very often.”
“I don’t want to die in the dressing room. It’s like this: I’m 58 years old. From your point of view it may be old, but from other points of view it’s not that old.
“That means I can make a decision in a few years. I don’t know. Do I have to make a decision today? I don’t coach anymore, but thank God I don’t have to. I just have to see what the future holds.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes the responsibility for lifting the team lies with his team-mates. The defender called on the Reds to support each other.
“We’re definitely letting him (Slot) down, but we’re also letting ourselves down,” Van Dijk said. “Look at yourself first and then help each other and help each other get out of this mess because it’s a mess at the moment. It’s just a fact.”
Former Liverpool ace Jamie Redknapp says it is too early to think about Slott’s future. “After Jurgen Klopp left the club, I thought it would have a negative impact on the team,” he said.
“That was not the case. They did something really extraordinary and won the league.
“I think it’s a time for patience, because they’re going to have the public, the pundits, everyone going crazy, saying, ‘Fire the manager.’ (Stay calm) Take your time and make sure you evaluate. It was the most difficult preseason imaginable for those players.”
Martin Keown is also adamant that Slott will not be shown the door by Liverpool. “We have to praise Forest for their efforts, but yeah, Arne Slott’s wheels are starting to come off,” Keown told Final Score.
“Obviously it’s Jurgen Klopp’s team, he came in and tried to make changes, but he spent £450m on players and they’re going backwards. They’ve just been undone. I don’t know if it’s a crisis, but six defeats in seven is certainly a big problem for a manager. It’s unthinkable.”
“I don’t think it’s possible to win the league one year and then be sacked the next,” added the former Arsenal defender.
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