Liverpool manager Arn Slott could be under increased pressure if Liverpool lose this weekend’s Merseyside derby to Everton. However, former Reds defender Dominic Mateo believes it would still be tough to sack the title-winning manager given the wider context.
Slott brought the Premier League title in his first season, but this season he has found the situation much tougher. With six games remaining, top spot is mathematically almost impossible, but Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain ended any glimmering hopes of a silver medal.
However, despite the difficult season, Matteo believes senior management needs to think very carefully about the manager’s position. He admits available candidates will be a factor, but he is still on the fence about his future in the slot, with former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso – who may be looking for a new club after leaving Real Madrid midway through the season – seeing clear improvement in his midweek comeback.
“Arne Slott is probably going to be under a lot of pressure because of what’s available,” Mateo told Mirror Football via BetSelect.co.uk. “Liverpool are not a sacking team, they never will be, but obviously if Liverpool get into Europe… that would give him a better chance (of staying). But then will a top manager come to a club that is not in Europe? I don’t know.”
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He added: “I don’t think[the decision to sack him]has been taken yet. Nobody knows what goes on behind the scenes at a football club. There are so many people involved in every club, whether it’s Richard Hughes or whoever makes that decision.”
“But obviously we have to look at everything, analyze everything and decide if there is a better option than Arne. Obviously, he won the league last year, so I think it would be pretty tough if he was sacked before next season starts.”
Mateo believes whichever team wins the battle will come out on top on Sunday. The last time the two sides met in the league was at Liverpool, but with Jurgen Klopp losing the last Merseyside derby, there is a real risk that another comeback could end for Slott.
Mateo believes Slott will be under more pressure than his opponent David Moyes (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Liverpool have always been favorites in recent derby games (but) I think they’re closer now,” added the former Scotland international. “I think it will be a very, very important game for the fans, given the season and how it has gone, for Liverpool, especially the manager and some of the players, to get this result.
“If he does well and does well, then people behind the scenes might think, oh, ‘oh, he’s worthy of another shot’…or if he does poorly, they might make a decision and think, ‘Is it time for a change at the start of next season?'”
“That’s why this game is so important in so many ways. David Moyes will be sitting there too, but obviously there’s pressure in a derby game, but he won’t feel as much pressure as Arne Slott.”
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