Manager Jamie Carragher paints a worrying picture for Liverpool and Arne Slott after the Dutchman came under pressure during his recent struggles in the Premier League.
Jamie Carragher has strong views on Arne Slott (Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher believes manager Arne Slott will be sacked if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. The former Reds defender believes Slott’s side are not ready for Premier League football this season, despite winning the title last season.
Liverpool had a historically poor run at the start of this season, and defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend ended an unbeaten run that had seen some recovery. The Reds are sixth in the division, behind Chelsea in fifth and a rejuvenated Manchester United in fourth.
Carragher doesn’t think Slott should be judged too harshly after not challenging for the title this season, but withdrawing from Europe’s biggest tournament could be a red line for the Dutchman to cross. Sky Sports experts are not convinced that Liverpool will be successful in their efforts.
“If you think about the three things that stand out to me in the Premier League, it’s the set-pieces and long throws that we’re going to face, the counter-attacking football that we’re not suited to, both set-pieces and counter-attacks. When a top team like Liverpool is up against a low block, as Arne Slott likes to say, Liverpool can’t deal with any of that,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football.
“We’re looking at teams that aren’t fit for the Premier League. But when we look at them in Europe, are set pieces and long throws important? No. Are counter-attacks just as important? Counter-attacks are always important, but in Europe they’re not as important, they’re low No one is just sitting on the block, so it suits Liverpool. They can beat Real Madrid, they can go away to Inter Milan and win, they can go away to Marseille and win and they can finish in the top eight and get into the knockout stages.”
read more: Premier League sacking race: Thomas Frank hangs on as Arne Slott crisis continuesread more: Liverpool defender suffers new injury ahead of two months out
“I think Liverpool, as a club and as a support, can accept a collective responsibility to say, ‘We’re not going to win the league this year, we’re not going to try. We’re not good enough, but we accept that.’
“Once you start seeing what Manchester United have done in the last few weeks, look at Chelsea. If it starts to look like Liverpool could actually finish outside of the Champions League places, then I’m really scared for them. I don’t think this team is ready for Premier League football.”
“When you start to worry about qualifying for the Champions League next season, that’s when you feel there’s a different proposition when you’re talking about the manager’s job. That’s something completely different for me.
Arne Slott’s Liverpool are now winless in five Premier League games (Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images))
“Not winning the league, not being able to challenge for the league is a joint responsibility and Liverpool don’t win the league every year. Not being able to go from being champions to being in the Champions League, spending £450m and having a top wage bill, that’s usually the biggest deciding factor in where you end up. I think you have serious doubts.”
Dave Jones asked: “Champions League or slot bust?”
“As for qualifying, yes,” was the reply. “I think some of the criticism and disdain towards him from Liverpool supporters that I know is way too far considering he won the league last season. But if you win the league and spend as much money as Liverpool and still don’t qualify for the Champions League, I don’t think you have any legs to stand on.
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