Arne Slott has been under pressure at Liverpool all season (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Manager Arne Slott continues to have the full support of Liverpool’s leadership despite an underwhelming season. The Dutchman won Premier League honors in his first attempt last season but is finding it difficult to repeat the same level of performance this year.
Despite spending nearly £450m over the summer, the Reds occupy fifth place in the Premier League table and are yet to come close to the standards they achieved last season. Expectations were high last summer with the signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkes and Alexander Isak, but the club failed to make an impression in the league. Slott has come under increasing scrutiny after his struggles this season, with some circles questioning his future at Anfield.
Despite this, Fenway Sports Group maintains full confidence in the Dutchman and believes he has been “difficult to handle” throughout the current campaign.
The Athletic has revealed that the shocking death of Diogo Jota in the summer has had a huge impact on the entire club.
The report also found that Liverpool bosses felt Slott’s handling of the dire situation showed “excellent leadership” and kept the team together.
Significant injuries to Isaac, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also factored into the equation. This is further exacerbated by the decline in the form of core players such as Alexis Mac Allister and the departed Mohamed Salah.
Those at the club’s helm continue to back Slott and are confident he can turn the tide. FSG believe that with further additions in the summer transfer window, the 47-year-old can return to a position to deliver silverware, similar to what his predecessor Jurgen Klopp achieved in the 2023/24 season.
Despite mounting pressure to sack Slott, FSG has no intention of making fundamental changes and “starting over” next season. The report says Liverpool bosses do not believe the Dutchman is “effectively on trial” until the end of the season and have not set specific criteria for him to retain his place at Anfield.
Slott reportedly maintains the full support of Liverpool’s owners (Image: Getty)
This view is shared by club icon Steven Gerrard, who feels Slot needs extra time to address the issues plaguing the team.
When asked on the Overlap show whether Slott was sure of his role, the 45-year-old said: “He’s with me because I know more than anyone else on the planet how hard it is to win a league, and for him to come into the league in his first season and win the league has more credit to me.”
“Jamie will say it, Liverpool will demand it and they will expect to win it every year. I think he needs an opportunity to play his way out of trouble, solve problems and try to get back into a good position.”
“I think he did that a few months ago when the team was losing nine of 12 games, and then he was on a roll to take the team from 12th to fourth in the league. I think any player who wins the league deserves at least a full season to work their way out of the problems and challenges they have, and I’m definitely one of them.”
“But we also have to understand what the fans are saying, because in certain games and performances it was dire.”
Victory in this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City could go a long way towards restoring supporter confidence. The Reds travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola’s side and have the chance to end their hopes of winning a domestic double with their first win of the season.
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