Big controversy: Arne Slott is under increasing pressure at Liverpool after a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest deepened the crisis and effectively ended their Premier League title defence.
Just over seven months after winning the Premier League title, Arne Slott finds himself in a very different situation at Liverpool. The Dutchman enjoyed a dream debut as Reds manager but is currently on a downward spiral.
Liverpool lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, their sixth defeat in their last seven league games, leaving them in 11th place, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal. All the hallmarks of a great 2024/25 season have disappeared, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have struggled defensively and the rookie frontline has become dysfunctional.
Both Slott and Van Dijk were quick to take responsibility for the poor performance following the loss to Forest, but it was the manager’s words that raised the most eyebrows. “If things go well, if things go bad, it’s my responsibility,” he said matter-of-factly.
“We tried to adjust some things, but it didn’t work,” Slott said. Should we be given more time to turn things around? Or would Liverpool be better served by taking the bold step of replacing the manager they had chosen to replace Jurgen Klopp? Here Mirror Football writers have their say.
read more: Wayne Rooney tells Arne Slott to remove Mo Salah to save Liverpool job – ‘No excuses!’read more: Liverpool call in substitute for Arne Slott while watching Leeds vs Aston Villa
john cross
This is a discussion we shouldn’t have. Suck Arne Slot? Can’t be serious. This is Liverpool we’re talking about. Just to be sure, it’s not Chelsea. Slot was sensational last season. They were the best team in the Premier League by a mile. Yes, he took over Jurgen Klopp’s team, but the art of management is to mount a seamless transition. He did it brilliantly.
They always needed a big contract. The team was aging and needed help. They will also be players who will be immediately selected into the starting lineup. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isaac are not yet in bed. Slott also made a mistake, or the club made a mistake, by changing the system, losing a big name player in Trent Alexander-Arnold and not signing a new centre-half. Ibrahima Konate looks terrible, so teams are targeting him.
Next, we have to talk about the emotions surrounding Diogo Jota. Never mind top-level sports. In any walk of life, bereavement can hit you like a ton of bricks. I can’t function or think properly. It doesn’t have to be just sports. It’s absolutely devastating.
All these factors are coming together and Liverpool’s season is falling apart. But Liverpool will definitely support them. They have values and must support him no matter what.
Andy Dunn
Liverpool chairman Tom Warner was at Anfield to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Nottingham Forest, but my guess is that the 75-year-old American wasn’t there to see if Arn Slott was still in the job. No, it’s more likely that Werner was there to discuss Slott’s contract extension. Seriously.
Liverpool’s performance in the hour after Murillo’s opener was shockingly poor, with six defeats in their last seven Premier League games less than ideal. But Slott has huge faith in the bank, with losses to Manchester City and Forest followed by wins over Aston Villa, fourth in the Premier League table, and Real Madrid, leaders of La Liga.
Games against PSV Eindhoven, West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds will dampen the excitement. Remember, Liverpool have won three of their four Champions League games. In any case, given last season’s Premier League win and 64 per cent win rate in his first 75 games as Liverpool manager, Slott will be safe for a while yet.
Jeremy Cross
Arne Slott faces winter skating on thin ice. He still has faith in the bank after leading Liverpool to the title in his first season in charge. Although sacking him now would create a problem for which Liverpool may not have a solution. The question is: Who is talented enough to take his place in one of the most demanding jobs in football?
But serious questions must now be asked about whether Slott is as good a manager as the club’s leaders and supporters thought. Winning a title is one thing, defending it is something else entirely. Something is seriously wrong – and Slots needs to fix it immediately.
It’s all good to inherit a great team from manager Jurgen Klopp and continue to chase titles while Manchester City are struggling. But when the chips are down and serious issues need to be addressed, that’s when we learn how good managers like slots are.
scott trotter
No, Arne Slot should not be fired. Liverpool’s form has been terrible and their impressive summer transfer business may have been too much at once. But last season, the Dutchman did the unthinkable. Only one other manager has ever won a title in this division, and Words winning the championship proved that Slott was a great manager. As much as football doesn’t want to allow that, it takes time and patience. The extent to which Liverpool’s form is on the slot door will depend on how much influence he had in the Reds’ summer transfer decisions, and how much. The club’s defense proved inadequate and the attack could not make up for it. Will Slott need to find a better balance? But the summer move may not have been just for now, but for Liverpool’s future as well. And a slot’s ranking within it should not be determined by 12 games.
Felix Keith
As Slott himself admits, he bears much of the blame for Liverpool’s rut. He has made some tactically questionable decisions recently – for example, continuing to play Dominik Szoboszlai, the team’s best creative force, in midfield and at right-back – but I don’t think making a change is the right thing to do…yet.
It wasn’t too long ago that we were all celebrating Slott’s genius, and he deserves a chance to right his recent mistakes. Liverpool’s form in the Champions League has seen them win three out of four games, including the one against Real Madrid, and there are signs that he can achieve that.
Perhaps the strongest argument against sticking rather than twisting is that there are no clear candidates to replace the slot. In an era of short-term managers, Liverpool benefited from supporting Klopp during a turbulent early period. The team still has top-level players and the situation is more than recoverable.
ben husband
The slot still has credit in the bank, but the balance is getting pretty low. The Dutchman took over from Klopp last season and performed minor miracles with his players and getting them back to their best. But now this is his team. He spent over £400m on players and the Reds regressed.
He should be given time to right the ship, but it won’t be forever. Liverpool need to win their remaining three Premier League games and get back on track quickly. That should start by recognizing that Hugo Ekitike is the team’s best striker and making sure Alexander Isak actually earns a starting spot.
Slott shouldn’t be fired yet…but he needs results – and soon.
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