Arne Slott is under serious pressure to keep his job at Liverpool after a very disappointing season both domestically and in Europe. It was just 12 months ago that the Reds were celebrating as they clinched the Premier League title with seven games to spare. A year later, they are in very different situations, and Slott is no longer hailed as the hero he once was.
Given what’s going on behind the scenes, any failure to advance could come as a shock to Slot’s face. According to the Daily Mail, he privately told people in January that he would prioritize the Champions League.
However, the Reds are now in a slump and it will be up to Slott to revitalize his team for a season-defining comeback against PSG.
It has already been suggested that Xabi Alonso could take his place in the event of a change of manager, and a poor end to the season could spell trouble for the Dutchman.
But pulling the trigger does not guarantee success, and Liverpool legend John Barnes is not entirely convinced that Slott should be relieved of his duties.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: “I understand the fuss because Xavi is a Liverpool favorite, but did he not fail at Real Madrid? Was he actually a successful manager?”
“Of course, don’t get me wrong, I think Xavi was great and did a good job. But he was sacked by Real Madrid for a mistake, right? That’s why they sacked him.”
“We like the clamor for ex-players. I’ve mentioned Steven Gerrard before so I understand how the fans feel, but this is how fans are. They’re very fickle.”
“We won the league with Arn Slott and then all of a sudden we want to sack him? If he leaves and Alonso comes, are we going to sack him and bring in someone else, assuming Alonso fails in the first six months or the first year?”
“I always support the manager, whoever he is, because they come to the club to succeed, they are good managers and they need to be given time.”
“When Jurgen Klopp first came, we were 20 points off the top, but we stuck with him. I think Xavi will be a great manager one day, but I would like Arne Slott to stay.”
