Pressure is mounting on Arne Slott following Liverpool’s worrying sixth defeat in seven Premier League games, but experts believe the Dutchman is still out of harm’s way despite winning the title last season. Slott, 47, enjoyed a fairytale debut campaign after replacing Jurgen Klopp and leading the Reds to league glory.
Nevertheless, the former Feyenoord manager faces a tough start to the 2025-26 season, with Anfield’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday raising alarm bells. Liverpool look significantly less motivated after spending a whopping £450m to revamp their squad in the summer, with Slott largely inheriting Klopp’s personnel from last season, and questions about Slott’s methods have surfaced.
Arsenal icon Martin Keown remains confident Slott can avoid being sacked by Liverpool after his impressive first year in charge.
“We have to give Forest credit, but yeah, the wheels are coming off for Arne Slott now,” Keown told TNT Sports.
“Obviously it’s Jurgen Klopp’s team and he’s come in and tried to make changes, but they’ve spent £450m on players and they’re going backwards. They’ve just been put back. 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 be sacked the next. It’s amazing what we’re seeing at Liverpool. Liverpool’s fall from glory and losing so many games at the start of the season, eight points off the top of the table, is really unthinkable after this time last season.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp agreed with Sky Sports following Forest’s win, while also highlighting the tumultuous summer endured by Slott and his team.
“If you look at Liverpool now, this is something we expected to happen last season,” he said.
“After Jurgen Klopp left the club, I thought it would have a negative impact on the team, but that wasn’t the case. They did something completely 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.”
